Our view: Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp must make wholesale changes against Shrewsbury Town

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Liverpool’s FA Cup fourth round opponents were finally confirmed on Tuesday evening after Shrewsbury Town overcame Bristol City in a 1-0 victory to set up a clash against the runaway Premier League leaders.

This is the perfect opportunity for Jurgen Klopp to once again make wholesale changes in the world’s oldest cup competition. The German manager’s leap of faith in the previous round was vindicated after Liverpool’s young guns outmanoeuvred Carlo Ancelotti’s full strength Everton side.

The European champions’ victory against their neighbours across Stanley Park was a testament to the culture of excellence Klopp has installed and the work of the club’s academy staff at Kirkby.

Despite fielding a team that at one point saw six of Liverpool’s outfield players without a Premier League start between them, the likes of Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Neco Williams, Yasser Larouci, Pedro Chirivella and Takumi Minamino all impressed following a performance where the young guns stepped up and delivered.

There was no hint of fear as Klopp once again inflicted sufficient damage to Everton wounds. It was a performance which brought to mind a famous Bill Shankly quote: “I always said we had the best two teams on Merseyside… Liverpool and Liverpool reserves.”

Nine changes were made in the FA Cup that famous afternoon and we should expect to see something very similar when Liverpool make the 70 mile trip to Shrewsbury. The domestic cup bout will occur just three days after the Reds’ Premier League clash away at Wolves.

It could also provide a valuable opportunity to ease returning stars from injury with the likes of Fabinho, Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren all close to making their long-awaited recoveries. Klopp is unlikely to risk any of the mentioned trio in Liverpool’s next two Premier League bouts against Manchester United and Wolves.

Liverpool’s youngsters have had previous success against lower league opposition in the past after comfortably dispatching fellow League One outfit MK Dons in the Carabao Cup back in September. With the Reds likely to dominate the ball and intensity of the match, it is the perfect fixture to showcase how the relentless mentality installed by Klopp is ever-present from Melwood to the academy set-up at Kirkby.