Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed he will not take charge of the Reds’ FA Cup replay against Shrewsbury, nor will any senior players from the European champions take part.
Klopp made 11 changes as the League One side, 59 places below Liverpool in the English football pyramid, came from 2-0 down to secure a replay at Anfield on Sunday.
However, the German did still include a handful of experienced players such as Adrian, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren, Fabinho and Divock Origi.
Even they are set to miss the replay as it falls a few days into Liverpool’s two-week winter break from Premier League action.
Klopp said he has already promised that week off to first-team players and that under-23s coach Neil Critchley will take charge of team.
Liverpool went out of the League Cup in December when a team fielding five debutants and an average age of 19 was beaten 5-0 by Aston Villa.
Critchley was also in charge for that game with Klopp and the first team away in Qatar for the Club World Cup.