Jurgen Klopp defends selection policy following goalless draw

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp watches on during his side's Premier League clash with Stoke at Anfield on December 27, 2016
© SilverHub
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists that his side would have had trouble breaking down Plymouth Argyle even if they had fielded their strongest side.

Jurgen Klopp has defended his decision to make mass changes to his starting lineup for Liverpool's goalless draw with Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup.

The Reds made 10 changes from their 2-2 draw with Sunderland last time out, naming their youngest-ever side for the uneventful third-round tie at Anfield.

Liverpool had 28 attempts in all but failed to truly test Argyle keeper Luke McCormick across the 90 minutes, meaning a replay at Home Park in a little over a week's time - one of nine fixtures for them in January.

Speaking after the match, Klopp told BT Sport: "They created small spaces and we made our own problems. A game like this is not easy to make exciting. We had a young side so that's difficult. We can do better and if we do better then we have a good chance of making the next round.

"With our other lineup it could be possible that the result was still the same. Not likely but possible. It was a good experience for the boys."

Liverpool, whose starting lineup had an average age of just 21 years and 296 days, now turn their attention to the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final against Southampton in midweek.

Mamadou Sakho of Liverpool in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on October 31, 2015 in London, England.
Read Next:
Sevilla keen on Liverpool outcast Sakho?
>


Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea21171345153052
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs21136243142945
3Liverpool21136249242545
4Arsenal21135348222644
5Manchester CityMan City21133541261542
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd21117332201240
7Everton219663223933
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom218582828029
9Stoke CityStoke217682733-627
10Burnley2182112331-826
11Bournemouth2174103037-725
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham2174102635-925
13Southampton216691926-724
14Watford2165102336-1323
15Leicester CityLeicester2156102434-1021
16Middlesbrough214891722-520
17Crystal Palace2144133040-1016
18Hull City2144132045-2516
19Sunderland2143142040-2015
20Swansea CitySwansea2143142349-2615