Neil Critchley has outlined what a special club Liverpool is by praising the supporters who made the trip to Villa Park on Tuesday night.
The travelling Kop was in full and fine voice as they backed the young Liverpool players as they were defeated 5-0 by Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
The Academy players were superb on the night and the manager has praised the excellent accounts they all gave of themselves while also outlining just how incredible it was to have thousands of Reds fans there in support.
He said: “The support we had, it’s Christmas and they were well aware of the team that was going to be on the pitch but they came in their thousands.
What Jurgen Klopp did at half-time of Liverpool's Carabao Cup defeat to Aston Villa HERE
“They stayed right until the end and clapped all those young players off the pitch.
“It just shows what a special football club this is.”
Liverpool put out the youngest team in their history during the game because their hand was forced by the fact Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool first team are out in Qatar for the Club World Cup.
Critchley was asked if he thought it was unfair on the players having to play in the match and being defeated but he outlined that the youngsters absolutely loved having the experience of being a Liverpool first team player in a match of such magnitude.
He added: “We haven’t chosen this. It was decided by the club that it was the best solution and try telling any of the players in the dressing it was a bad thing for them.
“If you came into the dressing room you would know the feeling the players have had.
“You can’t swap that experience for anything and it was a special evening for them.”
