8 January 2017 Opposition: Plymouth Argyle Competition: FA

8 January January 2017 8 Date: 8 January 2017 Times Telegraph Herald Opposition: Plymouth Argyle Guardian Mirror Echo Independent Mail BBC Competition: FA Cup Plymouth Argyle (4-3-3): L McCormick 7 -- G Miller 7 (sub: C Smith 76), Y Songo'o 7, S Bradley 7, B Purrington 7 -- O Threlkeld 6, D Fox 6, G Carey 6 -- J Jervis 6, P 'One of the best defences Anfield's seen' Garita 7 (sub: C Tanner 65, 6), J Slew 6. Substitutes not used: V Dorel, N Bulvitis, K Osbourne, L Rooney, D Goodwillie. Liverpool 0 Plymouth Argyle 0 Referee: P Tierney Attendance: 52,692 It was just before the hour mark when Jurgen Klopp peered along the touchline, beckoned Daniel Sturridge towards him and instructed the striker to get stripped. Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino were also summoned from their slumbers soon after as the sense of desperation mounted and, all the time, Plymouth Plymouth hold out against Klopp’s young Liverpool to earn FA Cup manager Derek Adams stood a few yards away with arms folded and his stare replay fixed on matters out on the turf. His players followed suit. At no point did they blink. "It is probably one of the best defensive performances that Anfield has Home Park will constitute a “welcome to the real world” for Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool, according to the Plymouth Argyle manager, Derek Adams. For the seen," said Adams, unashamedly revelling in a famous result, as well he might. League Two club and their 8,600 followers from Devon, Anfield was fantasy. This "We defended deep, we defended in numbers, we allowed Liverpool to have the was no bona fide upset or compelling cup tie but the exuberant celebrations that ball and that was the game plan. "You have to stop good players having space and time and that is what we did." The throaty roar emanating from the 8,600-strong commenced in the away end shortly before the final whistle told otherwise. Green Army massed in the Anfield Road End at the final whistle told the story. The Plymouth had their day, and they still have a chance. Klopp had no regrets over ringing the changes for the FA Cup third round but even League Two club, some 68 places below their illustrious hosts, live to fight with a full complement – and Liverpool ended the tie with a forward line of another day and they barely sustained a scratch in doing so. Divock Origi, Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana – it would have Had Liverpool's Kevin Stewart not produced a perfectly-timed tackle to prevent substitute Craig Tanner surging clear, or had Jake Jervis's sights been truer, his been difficult to pick a hole in a 10-man Plymouth rearguard that produced what Adams claimed was “probably one of the best defensive performances Anfield has shot drifted across the face of goal with five minutes remaining, this might have seen”. The rueful smile on the Liverpool manager’s face as he shook Adams’s been an afternoon for Plymouth to pinch themselves. hand at full-time said it all. Liverpool dominated the ball but could find no way As it was, the 586-mile round trip proved an occasion to remember for the visitors through. even if the tie itself can be quickly forgotten, bereft of incident that will have irritated Klopp far more than his opposite number. Only Manchester United had kept a clean sheet at Anfield this season prior to Plymouth’s visit and now a team with designs on the Premier League title and the Klopp should be spared the flimsy accusations that by making ten changes he was EFL Cup final must travel to the south coast for a replay on 17 or 18 January. It in some way disrespecting the FA Cup. In naming the youngest ever team in was one of those days for Klopp, one of those dour stalemates that can arise Liverpool's history with an average age of 21 years and 296 days (even allowing between clubs of contrasting resources. for the inclusion of Lucas Leiva who turns 30 today) he opted to give youth a chance and, with an EFL Cup semi-final against Southampton on Wednesday, his Moments before kick-off the entire Plymouth team walked towards the Anfield Road end to applaud the away fans who had made the early-morning, 300-mile selection made sense. Simply because progress into the fourth-round was not journey north. They never ventured much further for the next 45 minutes as secured does not make it a mistake. The education of teenagers Ben Woodburn, Liverpool dominated totally against opponents who may be riding high in League Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo will have been bolstered by an Two but whose over-riding ambition was a goalless draw. It made for a hugely afternoon of toil, while Joe Gomez made a welcome return after 465 days out with injury. Yet the headache undoubtedly now belongs to Klopp given how hectic satisfying result for the stubborn visitors and their vociferous support but also a grim spectacle. this month already is without a replay having to be shoehorned into a gruelling Klopp made 10 changes to the Liverpool team that drew at Sunderland last schedule on either January 17 or 18. Monday and in the process fielded the youngest starting XI in the club’s history, If a gulf in territory ensued with Liverpool hogging 77 per cent of possession, then with a forward line comprising Ben Woodburn, Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo bringing they were not nearly cute enough to turn it into clear-cut chances and goals. Their passing was too slow, too many players were taking too many touches, and the average age to 21 years and 296 days. All three impressed – particularly the 17-year-old Woodburn with his awareness, movement and touch – and all saw they were too predictable to penetrate behind Plymouth, who retreated into a 4- plenty of the ball in a first half that resembled a training ground exercise of attack 5-1 formation and stuck doggedly to their task. versus defence. Klopp lamented that his players lacked patience and that only four of 28 attempts were on target emphatically underlined his point. Liverpool’s problem was that it was a defence containing 10 green shirts, each prepared to throw itself in the way of every cross, shot and attempted through Had Ojo not mistimed a header from six yards with only Luke McCormick to beat ball. Sonny Bradley typified their commitment with a commanding display in after 15 minutes, or the goalkeeper not repelled Woodburn's stabbed right-foot central defence but took the spoiling tactics too far with a series of pinches on the shot after he bamboozled Yann Songo'o soon after, the script might have been ear, armpit and side of Emre Can. The Germany international had every right to more faithfully adhered to. But while Plymouth parked the boat, they deserve credit for displaying the discipline and organisation to maintain their focus bring his complaints to the match officials. The rearguard action succeeded to the extent the goalkeeper Luke McCormick throughout. It is no surprise it is now 53 matches since they conceded more than had more touches than any other Plymouth player in the first half but also no two goals away from Home Park. McCormick radiated confidence, even though he serious save to make. Ojo should have worked him more, or indeed scored, with a did not have to make a series of spellbinding saves, and that spread throughout. free header from close range after Can’s blocked free-kick was sent back into the Sonny Bradley was immense at the heart of a defence that refused to flinch even after losing right back Gary Miller with a serious ankle injury for the final 15 penalty area, but the winger’s effort was tame and straight into McCormick’s grasp. Origi did beat the keeper with a low finish from six yards but only after minutes. In doing so, they joined Manchester United and West Ham United as the being penalised for a pull on Gary Miller. only sides to have claimed goalless draws at Anfield since the start of last season. Plymouth’s defensive ploy may not have been entirely by design, as a slightly Parity imbued Plymouth with confidence and, having failed to mount an attack of more adventurous second-half display suggested. Liverpool were simply so much note in the opening half, they belatedly found the ambition to raid further forward. Graham Carey dispatched a 30-yard free kick that Liverpool goalkeeper quicker both to and on the ball than Adams’s players, ensuring the visitors’ midfield were easily caught in possession or closed down on the few occasions Loris Karius clutched to his midriff before Stewart halted Tanner as he dreamt of they did venture forward. The men in green showed greater urgency and making a name for himself with a crunching challenge. Still there was time for ambition in the second half but their cause was not helped by the loss of striker glory to beckon for Jervis. Seizing on a loose pass from Lucas near the halfway Paul-Arnold Garita and right-back Miller, the latter to what appeared serious line, he burst into the penalty area but dragged his effort wide in front of the travelling ranks. What will disappoint Klopp is that the introduction of the cavalry injury, in rapid succession. Miller was given oxygen as he was carried off with a suspected broken ankle and to a sporting ovation from the Anfield crowd.

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