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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Bobby Vincent

Gary Lineker gives perfect verdict after Liverpool beat Shrewsbury

Gary Lineker has taken to Twitter to sum up the unusual situation and incredible night that unfolded at Anfield as Liverpool beat Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Reds fielded their youngest ever team, with an average age of 19 years and 102 days.

And an own goal from Ro-Shaun Williams was enough for the youngsters to earn a fifth round tie at Chelsea.

There was an element of controversy around the Liverpool team selection - with manager Jurgen Klopp deciding to rest every one of his senior squad, including himself, in order to respect the mid-season break.

The task last night was handed over to the under-23s and boss Neil Critchley who duly delivered.

After the final whistle, Lineker simply tweeted: "Liverpool's kids have beaten Shrewsbury. All that fuss over nothing."

Klopp was labelled disrespectful by some for his stance - but the manager wanted to give the youngsters another chance, as well as resting his senior side who have played plenty of football already this season.

The Reds boss has been a longstanding critic of congested fixture scheduling and the impact it can have on player welfare.

And the replay was an opportunity for the young Reds to put things right after being thrashed 5-0 at Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup in December while the senior players were away in Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup.

This was a momentous night at Anfield.

And even with the Reds' record-breaking season in the Premier League, it is sure to be one of the highlights.

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