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Klopp rules senior players and himself out of FA Cup replay

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says none of his senior players will play in their FA Cup Fourth R...



Klopp rules senior players and...
Soccer

Klopp rules senior players and himself out of FA Cup replay

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says none of his senior players will play in their FA Cup Fourth Round replay with Shrewsbury Town in early February.

The League One side stunned the Premier League leaders at Montgomery Waters Meadow today and two goals from Jason Cummings saw them come from 2-0 down to draw and force a replay at Anfield on Tuesday 4th February that Klopp could really do without.

The German was clearly frustrated at full-time but also respectful to their opposition.

"Congratulations to Shrewsbury because it was well deserved.

"It was the minimum of what they deserved with the chances they had.

"Why did they have them chances? Because we lost the ball in the wrong moment, we played a few really difficult passes which were difficult to control, we never got used to the pitch 100% today and that kept them in the game.

"It's a cup game and we had to do better but Shrewsbury did really well. The atmosphere was wonderful, 95 minutes was really good. We brought Shrewbury up and the crowd up the way we played.#

"For us not a wonderful football day obviously."

Klopp confirmed after the game that a second-string side will line out for the replay on Merseyside and U-23s coach Neil Critchley will take charge.

"It was always clear when we came through in the next round that it will be like this but in April 2019 we got a letter from the Premier League where they asked us to respect the winter break, not to organise international friendlies or competitive games.

"I said to the boys two weeks ago that we will have a winter break so we will not be there, it will be the kids who play that game.

"I know it's not very popular but that's the way I see it, the Premier League asked us to respect the winter break, that's what we'll do.

"We have to respect it to respect the player's welfare. They need the rest - mental rest and physical rest and that's what the winter break is about.

"They will train but for themselves, they have running programmes, fitness programmes that's what they do but they'll come to Melwood and won't play football."

Neil Critchley stood in for Klopp in their Carabao Cup 5-0 loss to Aston Villa before Christmas as the senior squad and management travelled to the Club World Cup in Qatar.

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