Shrewsbury Town has created one of the biggest talking points in Liverpool’s seemingly golden season. The Reds were handed a surprise 2-2 draw in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday. Now they will have to partake in a replay, but it seems Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp isn’t too interested in the FA Cup.
The replay date is scheduled for Feb. 4 and falls in the winter break period for Premier League teams, in which players can rest. Liverpool isn’t the only top-flight side with a replay scheduled during the break, as Tottenham, Southampton and Newcastle all have to play. Klopp has decided to “respect” the break and rest all senior players for the replay and instead let his U-23 side play.
Jurgen Klopp says he will not manage Liverpool for their FA Cup replay with Shrewsbury pic.twitter.com/U2PiQAMGDt
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 27, 2020
This isn’t the first time this season that Klopp has sent out the youngsters. Aston Villa smashed Liverpool’s youth in December in the Carabao Cup.
Letting the U-23 side have at Shrewsbury has upset some critics, who feel the move is disrespectful to the tournament. The real kicker though is that Klopp won’t bother to show up for the match. Instead, the U-23 manager Neil Critchley will take charge.
TV pundit and former England international Rio Ferdinand said Klopp not being present is where he draws the line on the situation.
In an interview, Klopp said the decision to not go is based on coaching.
“Could I be here for it? Of course, but it is a misunderstanding of coaching,” Klopp said. “I cannot just show up for it within two days. They need their coach and that is Critch. We will try to win it.”
Allowing Critchley to manage his own players is somewhat understandable, but the fact Klopp won't be at Anfield at all with no prior arrangements is like asking a date to the prom and then handing off your date to a buddy and then not going to the dance at all.
In the grand scheme of things, Liverpool has a Premier League title to wrap up and a Champions League title to defend. Obviously, an FA Cup doesn’t rank too highly on the priority list. Sadly for the FA Cup, its prestige is not what it once was.
Football’s oldest national competition is now a sideshow to the bright lights of the UEFA Champions League and Premier League alike. Klopp’s apathy toward the tournament is the keystone example of the FA Cup’s downfall.
The replay between Liverpool and Shrewsbury will be played at 2:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at Anfield. The winner will advance to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the fifth round.
