Jurgen Klopp Must Continue to Blood Liverpool's Young Guns

Liverpool's youngsters took their opportunity again, putting in a composed performance to comfortably see off Exeter City 3-0 in the FA Cup third-round replay at Anfield on Wednesday night.

The goals arrived from midfielder Joe Allen, substitute Sheyi Ojo and Joao Carlos Teixeira—the latter two both scoring their first goals for the club.

Allen was one of the players manager Jurgen Klopp picked to add some experience to the side, but there were still eight of the outfield players who started the original tie in the starting XI again. The two to miss out where Ryan Kent and Jerome Sinclair, with Allen and Jordon Ibe replacing them.

Simon Mignolet replaced Adam Bogdan in goal—the former Bolton Wanderers man's days at Anfield look numbered, with Klopp having recalled Danny Ward from loan the weekend following the Hungarian's blunder in the 2-2 draw in Devon a fortnight ago, and then giving Ward the place as substitute goalkeeper for the games against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Ward was ineligible for this match, along with loan signing Steven Caulker, with the duo not being registered before the original tie.

With Mignolet, Allen, Ibe, plus Jose Enrique and Christian Benteke—who both started the original tie—Klopp's side had a flutter of experience that was enough to guide the youngsters safely through to the fourth round.

Full-back Brad Smith put in another good showing, providing the assist for Allen's opening goal after a nice one-two with Benteke. The Australian was particularly impressive and now has enough experience to be considered as a back-up for first-choice left-back Alberto Moreno.

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Kevin Stewart produced a tidy display, starting as the holding player in a midfield three. The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster had only returned to play his first 90 minutes for the Reds' under-21s just three days before the original game at Exeter. Now fully fit, he looked much improved and showed good positional sense at times.

Alongside Stewart, Cameron Brannagan was also a positive—picking and choosing his moments to get forward well and not being afraid to take a shot. The 19-year-old will feel he is one of those with his place in the squad under threat from the summer arrival of Marko Grujic, so this display will have helped the under-21 captain.

Ahead of them, Teixeira and Ibe were the two who had the best attacking displays in the first and second half, respectively. The former was a threat in the opening 45 from the left, while the England Under-21 international opened up in the second half down the right.

There were plenty of positives for Klopp from his young players, with the only issue on the night being the flawed movement of Benteke up front.

After 180 minutes of action against a League Two side, the £32 million forward had no goals to show for his efforts and missed half-a-dozen good chances in this match. With many media proclaiming how Liverpool must deliver balls into the box for Beneteke, the first half saw him provided with two good crosses—one which he headed over and the other that was a comfortable save for the goalkeeper.

Put through on goal in the second half, Benteke showed his absolute lack of confidence or clinical finishing, instead ending up bundled to the ground. In the closing seconds, he fluffed his lines completely, in a similar fashion to how he messed up similar chances against Leicester City and Sunderland over Christmas.

Benteke put in some good work outside of the box, but he completely fell to pieces inside it—several times stood in completely the wrong position to receive a good delivery into the box.

While Benteke was the only issue on the night, another positive arrived early in the second half with the introduction of Jon Flanagan for Connor Randall.

Flanagan made his return after two knee operations—his first appearance since May 2014. A lot has changed at Liverpool in the 19 months he's been sidelined, but the 23-year-old provided a solid display on his comeback appearance, showing good passing and getting forward at the right moments.

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With Flanagan and Smith, Klopp now has backups for Moreno and Nathaniel Clyne.

Another positive from the bench was Ojo—whose nonchalant finish at the Kop end was the highlight of the night. The attacker provided another lively cameo and could force his way into the first-team picture in a similar role.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Klopp urged patience with his youngsters and not to expect too much from them too soon.

"It is a long way for these young boys but they showed what they are already able to do and what they have to learn," he said, per the Press Association (via This Is Anfield).

"It is not protecting them but giving the lads time to develop. Tonight was a good moment, there were a few things which were impressive but a lot of things to learn."

It was evident in Liverpool's display here that Klopp had more time to work with the youngsters ahead of this game, with the original XI being thrown together at the last minute—a game that saw Stewart and Tiago Ilori suffering with cramp in the latter stages due to lack of fitness. Ilori and Ojo had only returned to the club two days earlier.

Now, having observed the players up close over the last two weeks, Klopp has a clearer understanding of their individual strengths and weaknesses.

The question now becomes whether these players will get more opportunities at Liverpool, or have to leave the club in order to get regular playing time.

Four of those involved in the matchday squad—Flanagan, Enrique, Teixeira and unused substitute Jerome Sinclair—have their current contracts expiring at the end of the season.

"I like Joao, as a person he's a really nice guy and he's a good footballer," praised Klopp on Teixeira, before adding: "Of course players like him need matches, and if you can't get it where you are it should not be my decision.

"It's not allowed to be three or four years a substitute in this age, you have to play. I would like to work with him longer because it's only four months and I see his big jumps in development."

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Does Teixeira have enough to force his way into the first-team squad on a regular basis? The Portuguese youth international is now 23 years old and is competing against Ibe, Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and James Milner for a place in the starting XI.

The only way, though, for Teixeira to be truly evaluated is to offer him a chance in the Premier League.

Following the defeat to Manchester United last weekend, Liverpool's chances of a top-four finish are realistically very slim. With the Reds still in League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League competition, perhaps it's now time to focus on these fixtures and make the top aim to bring silverware to the club this season.

That could mean Klopp would be able to give a youngster such as Teixeira an opportunity in a league match.

Norwich City away on Saturday would perhaps be too soon, but with a League Cup semi-final days later, it would allow key players to be rested for that.

Indeed, not many supporters would be against the idea of Ward being offered an opportunity in goal for a league game. His debut for the club could perhaps arrive in the fourth-round tie against West Ham United.

That match throws up a tricky dilemma for Klopp; does he give the youngsters another chance in the FA Cup, or does he play a stronger side given the quality of opposition—who have beaten the Reds 3-0 and 2-0 already this season.

What's clear is that Liverpool's youngsters took the opportunity against Exeter in both games, building on their first performance with a better showing at Anfield in the replay. Klopp has reason to give them further playing time, but he will do so carefully.