This Tuesday night Liverpool take on one of their old enemies in the FA Cup. The Reds enter the game hot on the heels of having their unbeaten record halted at Vicarage Road at the weekend. Jürgen Klopp has a major decision to make for Tuesday night: does he back the kids more than Liverpool hate Chelsea?
So far this season The Reds’ gaffer has come under fire for ‘disrespecting’ the cups.
He has been charged with showing a lack of respect despite being in the fourth round of the FA Cup having beaten Premier League opposition in the third round.
The accusations have been down to his insistence on playing teams made up of primarily youth players. With Chelsea the fifth round draw, does Klopp back the kids more than we hate Chelsea?
Kopites absolutely despise Chelsea. Whilst there is an underlying, begrudging respect underpinning the rivalry with Manchester United – the Chelsea rivalry is characterised by a sheer vitriol.
It is a rivalry that runs deeper than football: it is the affluent West End of London versus the working class stronghold of Liverpool.
The two socio-economic groups have long been pitted against each other in the media and that has played out on the pitch as well.
Any loss to Chelsea hurts for Kopites. With the league title off the cards and their Champions League tie with Bayern Munich now a dead rubber, Frank Lampard will be going all out for the FA Cup.
We can expect the Pensioners to put out a strong side, so will Jürgen Klopp match Chelsea, or will he keep faith in his kids?
The most likely outcome is a blend of youth and experience, with only the brightest of the bright prospects keeping their places – namely Neco Williams, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.
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