Liverpool’s youngsters produced a commanding performance to see off League One outfit Shrewsbury and book a mouthwatering fifth round clash with Chelsea. With every senior team player rested and Jurgen Klopp on holiday, U23 manager Neil Critchley was given the reigns, and he fielded a side with an average age of just 19 years and 102 days- the youngest in the club’s history (beating the record that was set against Villa in the Carabao Cup back in December). While the Shrews had held a more accomplished LFC side featuring several seniors to a 2-2 draw in the first leg, they weren’t able to cope with the energy of the youngsters at Anfield and eventually slumped to a 1-0 defeat.
Critchley gave debuts to Adam Cain, Lewis Millar and Jake Cain, and the rest of the side had only 36 senior appearances between them to their name. Curtis Jones was handed the armband, making him the youngest ever captain in the club’s history, beating Alex Raisbeck’s 120 year old record set in 1900.
A midweek Cup replay game against League One opposition without senior players might have seen a reduced turnout for some other clubs, but not for Liverpool- 52,399 turned up at Anfield to watch the club’s youngsters do battle. Among them was James Milner, with the veteran midfielder sitting and watching the game from the stands.
The victory kept the Reds’ hope of a treble alive. Many felt they were disrespecting the Cup by resting their seniors, but the youngsters proved otherwise and also showed the club’s future was in good hands. Liverpool’s 1983-84 team were the first English side to do a treble (League, European Cup and League Cup). Gerard Houllier’s side also managed it in 2000-01 (League Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Cup). Both of them occupy special places in the club’s history, and we could potentially see the 2019/20 squad join them come May 30.
Neco Williams was again excellent, and showed just why many feel he should be in Wales’ squad for Euro 2020. The youngster came close to scoring twice- one went wide of the post and the other just about saved by Shrewsbury keeper Max O’Leary, and it was his cross that lead to the winner. He pinged in a delicious one from around half way, and defender Ro-Shaun Williams, aware that Harvey Elliott was behind him, chose to head it, but only ended up putting the ball into his own net. Williams is a former Manchester United youth player, which added another layer to this story given the rivalry Liverpool share with the Reds.
Shrewsbury had earlier thought they had opened the scoring, only for VAR to deny them. Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher denied David Edwards from close range, but could do nothing to stop Shaun Whalley from heading in the rebound. However VAR ruled that Daniel Udoh was offside in the build-up, and the visitors stayed scoreless.
Under Klopp, Liverpool have never managed to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup, so this was a hoodoo of sorts broken. Whether Critchley deserves a shot at managing the game against Chelsea is a question for another time, but this was a night to savour for the club’s youngsters.
Liverpool 1 (Williams own goal 75) beat Shrewsbury 0
LFC starting XI: Kelleher, Williams, Hoever, Van Den Berg, Lewis, Chirivella, Clarkson, Cain, Elliott, Jones, Millar
Shrewsbury starting XI: O’Leary, Pierre, Golbourne, Edwards, Williams, Whalley, Lang, Love, Goss, Ebanks-Landell, Laurent