Neil Critchley has praised Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopps effect on the clubs youngsters.
The German has come under fire for his decision to miss the Reds FA Cup fourth round replay against Shrewsbury on Tuesday, which is LIVE on talkSPORT, and send his first-team players on holiday during the mid-season Premier League break.
Jurgen Klopp won’t be in attendance at Anfield when Liverpool’s youngsters host Shrewsbury
It means Neil Critchleys Under-23 team will be left to fend for themselves when they host the League One club.
The U23 side were beaten 5-0 by Aston Villa in Decembers Carabao Cup quarter-final when the first-team were at the Club World Cup in Qatar.
Critchley believes Klopps absence wont make a difference in the way his team perform.
He said: He gives myself, the staff and players unbelievable support so I can speak to him whenever I like when I’m down here.
Check out all the LIVE commentaries coming up on talkSPORT, below…
- Liverpool vs Shrewsbury (Tuesday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT
- Oxford vs Newcastle (Tuesday, 8:05pm) talkSPORT 2
- Tottenham vs Southampton (Wednesday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT
- Bristol City vs Birmingham (Friday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT 2
- Wigan vs Preston (Saturday, 12pm) talkSPORT 2
- Everton vs Crystal Palace (Saturday, 12:30pm) talkSPORT
- Sunderland vs Ipswich (Saturday, 3pm) talkSPORT 2
- Brighton vs Watford (Saturday, 5:30pm) talkSPORT
- Nottingham Forest vs Leeds (Saturday, 5:30pm) talkSPORT 2
“He supports the young players unbelievably well, as he has shown so far this season so his presence, even if he isn’t there, is always felt by our younger players and by myself.
“I also think maybe one per cent that came into his thinking with his decision was the way we played against Aston Villa, he maybe thought the boys deserved another opportunity.”
Shrewsbury earned a shock trip to Anfield when they came back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw thanks to Jason Cummings’ second-half brace.
Last week, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy insisted Klopp should be in attendance for the replay.
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While agreeing with Klopps decision to rest his first-team stars, Murphy is adamant his presence at Anfield would help the youngsters.
He told talkSPORT: I think he should be there. He should be at the game. I dont think theres any reason for him not to be there.
Wherever hes flying to, whatever holiday hes got with or without the players, whether theyre going away together or hes given the players time off, he is the manager.
Hes not running round the pitch every three days, hes just walking about the training pitch and in the dugout.
As the manager, the impact of being there for those younger lads who play on the day is massive. Im telling you it would make a difference to their performance.