Monday 9 January 2017 07:09, UK
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he had no regrets over selecting the club's youngest-ever team after they were held to a goalless draw by Plymouth in the third round of the FA Cup.
Five teenagers were named in the starting line-up by Klopp, with only Emre Can keeping his place from the draw at Sunderland on Monday.
Despite dominating for the majority of the match, the Reds only forced Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick into a couple of saves.
Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino were introduced in the second half but Plymouth held on to become only the third team in a year to prevent Liverpool from scoring at Anfield.
"I don't think the line-up was a mistake," said Klopp. "We made mistakes in the game and always with the boys, the good things they are responsible for and the bad things I am responsible for.
"If you want to see it in a bad way then I am 100 per cent responsible, I have no problem with that. I will take it even if they had scored a goal in the last minute.
"I always choose line-ups to win the game and I accept that it was not to see in all situations today, but in a lot of them it was. It's really important for us, having games like this where we really have to fight for the result with a different line-up.
"There is a long season still to go and we need to change. If you make that many changes, it doesn't make it easier for the boys - I know this - but they need this experience and now they have it so we can go on."
The draw means Liverpool face another fixture in an already-congested January.
They take on Southampton in a two-legged EFL Cup semi-final and also have three Premier League matches to play before the end of the month.
"It's my responsibility, the whole thing - the line-up and performance," said Klopp. "We could have done better, 100 per cent. It was really difficult because in the first half, when we had fresh legs and were clear in mind, we started well but then we lost patience too early.
"That's how it is: crossing in the wrong moment, not crossing in the wrong moment, passing not really convinced, more an opportunity than a real offer, all that stuff.
"We had these situations. We were a little bit unlucky in one or two situations, good goalkeeper saves and then it's 0-0. So, not too cool, but not the worst thing in the world. And, of course, deserved for Plymouth."
