Jurgen Klopp looks set to trust the youngsters who beat Everton in the FA Cup third round as they face lower league opposition on Sunday
They will be backed by more experienced players who need game-time after recovering from injury like Fabinho, Joel Matip asnd Dejan Lovren as well as squad men Adam Lallana, Divock Origi, and No 2 keeper Adrian.
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But Klopp is confi dent his second string will be able to avoid a giant killing and maintain the unrelenting momentum which has carried the champions-elect points clear at the top of the Premier League and taken them into the last # of the Champions League, with the Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup already in the Anfield trophy room.
As he waited for the results of a scan on the hamstring injury that forced Sadio Mane to limp off in the 2-1 win at Wolves on Thursday night, Klopp said: “We will have a team with fresh legs. And we have players coming back from injury. It makes sense to play them because they are pretty good and we want to go through. It’s a chance for a lot of players. It’s a tough place to go, as it always is in cup competitions.
“It’s clear, without a winning mentality it’s difficult to win football games, but I don’t think the players have left any doubt this season that they want to win, whoever it is. “ Klopp knows the League One club will be fired up for the tie and describes the clash as a “proper cup tie.” “Of course it is tough, that’s the really good thing about a cup competition, “he added. “Shrewsbury qualified in a difficult game, having to play Bristol City twice, and have been looking forward to this game since they qualified and they knew before that we would be the opponent. “The lower league team playing at their home ground is an advantage, hopefully the pitch will be OK – I have no idea so far about any circumstances. But it is proper cup tie and I like that. “Is it a test? Yes but It is not like I test the players, it is a test in general as you play against a team who fights the fight of their life and we have to show how important the next round is to us. ” Expected Liverpool team (4-2-3-1): Adrian; Williams, Lovren, Matip, Larouchi; Fabinho, Chirivella; Eliott, Lallana, Jones; Origi.
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