Liverpool's Cup Conundrum Continues

Liverpool faced one of the glaring problems they are currently having with cup competitions.  The problem is they are still in all of them.  The question is whether or not that is a good thing.

As fans, we all love to see Liverpool Football Club as much as we can.  Those of us with odd work schedules or commitments elsewhere are especially appreciative to have extra chances to see live games when it is difficult to get an eyeball on the league matches.

With that in mind, we have to be a little more pragmatic when it comes to the priorities.  Fans and players, alike, want silverware.  The EFL Cup (formerly Capital One Cup) might have the least prestige, but it would still be a trophy.

On the same line of thinking, the FA Cup is nowhere near what it once was.  Liverpool themselves proved that with the lineup they used in the first leg against Plymouth.

The average age of the players on the pitch during that game was barely over 20 and that was including players like Lucas, who is in his 30's.  Liverpool went with a bit more of an evenly spread lineup in the replay, but you are still giving younger players plenty of looks in these games.

The problem becomes how you deal with it.  Some are fine going with nothing but youth to get them experience and exposure at the expense of the result.  Others want a full effort to be put into every single match, regardless of opponent.

That puts managers in a precarious position.  Jurgen Klopp himself has basically said they want to win every time out.  His team sheet does not always reflect that, but Liverpool have not shown any indication of "purposely" dropping a match to save legs for other competitions.

Call it crazy, but we've seen other clubs cleverly put out a squad they knew would likely not pick up a win in cup games.  The idea is if they win they get experience and if they lose, that is one less fixture to worry about on the schedule.

The problem becomes the no-win scenario these games present.  If you put out a strong team and lose, you are blasted for it.  If you put up a strong team and win, people wonder if you are overexposing them to fatigue.  The opposite is true as well.

Put out a weak team and fans question your willingness to win.  Put out a weak team and win and you get no credit as manager or player because you're the bigger club.

So, Liverpool were left to wonder what to do against Plymouth Argyle.  Their kids could not break down the battle tested, fourth-tier team.

What do you do in the replay?  Play the same team and hope or use the regulars and win?

Klopp went for both.  We saw a starting lineup with players like Lucas, Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Coutinho.  They were mixed in with several prospects including youngster Ben Woodburn and then Harry Wilson in the second half.

The game opened up lively enough.  Liverpool even broke the deadlock with the most unlikely person imaginable.

Lucas, who had not scored in seven years, put the first goal of the game in.  With the cross coming from the left, Lucas ran to the near post and rewarded his efforts with a slick header that curled inside the post and past the keeper.

Unfortunately, the mixture of experience and youth looked just like that the rest of the match.  The game remained 1-0 well into the latter stages of the game and you could tell the squad on the field did not have much experience with each other.

Loris Karius was called into action far too often for a match against a fourth level team, regardless of which players were on.  He was still a little shaky, but it was enough to keep out the shots he should have.

Liverpool were fortunate much of the match though too.  A shot in the 75th minute clattered off the post after a volley from Jake Jervis.

The Reds did themselves no favors either.  Sturridge missed a good chance midway through the second half.  Liverpool were also gifted a penalty in the 87th minute only to see Origi side foot it right into the goalkeeper.

In the end, none of it mattered.  Lucas' goal held up the entire way and Liverpool won to make it to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The issue now is whether that is a good thing.  As mentioned, we all want to see the club do well, but are more games good when Liverpool's league form is slipping a bit?

As a fan, we don't understand fatigue the way players do.  We see they are not having to play in Europe, so who cares about a few cup games?

Well, when the squad is only so deep, it can make a difference.  For now, we should all be happy that Liverpool is good enough to keep pressing on.

If the Reds can continue to use their youth in these games and win, then so be it.  It's good to get them time on a bigger stage.

We can only hope that these cup games don't complicate matters to the point where the Reds miss out on the top four.  We don't want to be Arsenal, where top four is our only concern, but it would be a step in the right direction if the Reds cannot catch Chelsea.