Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after the win at Exeter decided to play his second string team even against West Ham who were victorious on both occasions this season against the Reds. But an impressive performance from his youngsters has earned his team a 4th round replay at Upton Park, a fixture that the Reds could have done without.
Here are 5 things we learnt from the 0-0 stalemate at Anfield against West Ham United:
1. The kids are accomplished:
Liverpool’s second string side did one better than their senior team did as they held on to a 0-0 draw against the Hammers. Stewart, Brannagan, Teixeira and Smith all looked more than comfortable in their roles and took the attack to the 6th placed West Ham side on Saturday. They never looked under pressure and gave their manager plenty of headaches in selection for the next round of the tie at Upton Park.
2. The seniors? Not so much:
Even as the academy graduates showed their mettle, the likes of Benteke, Ibe and Mignolet were not really at their best, a reason why the fixture moved into the second leg. Benteke was immobile as usual providing no focal point to his mid-fielders while Ibe looked good in patches but lacks consistency. Mignolet who was the only player to have kept his place from the game against Stoke also showed his weakness in the air as Liverpool had to hold on to a 0-0 draw at home. Klopp will surely think about the futures of a number of players come the end of the season.
3. More injuries to the Hammers:
Jenkinson ended his season with an ACL injury before the game and Slaven Bilic had Tomkins deputize for him on the flank. But Tomkins himself picked up another injury and was subbed off in the first half. Tomkins was the most influential player before he left the field which exposed the flanks for the visitors. This injury will surely leave a sour taste for the London club who are aspiring for a European finish at the end of the season.
4. It was scrappy:
The 4th round of the FA Cup is supposed to be the most entertaining with all the clubs truly believing that they can go through to the next round. However, in this fixture, it was more about getting the game to the second tie for one team and trying not to lose for the other. The relatively in-experienced home side could have got a result from this game but there was very little on offer from both sides as there were hardly any moments of brilliance that the FA Cup is usually known for. Surely the next leg will produce some entertainment even if Klopp decides to play a similar side to this one.
5. The English schedule a mess:
Scheduling a full Premier League round just 2 days after a grueling 4th round of FA Cup shows the sheer lunacy of the Premier League schedule that the top flight teams have to endure on their way to the end of the season. Liverpool have already played 8 games in January and the next month is no less hectic for the Reds. This has seen Klopp use a second string team even against the likes of the Hammers and if the fixture schedule is not really adjusted, the trend of using a young side even in the FA Cup might just catch on to the other clubs. The FA should look into the matter quickly to avoid loss of TV ratings in the long run.