Liverpool vs. West Ham: Score, Reaction from 2016 FA Cup 4th Round Match

Liverpool and West Ham United played out a dull and listless 0-0 draw in the FA Cup fourth round at Anfield on Saturday. The result means both teams will experience the inconvenience of a replay to see who goes through.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, neither side produced much attacking verve and creativity, resulting in different kinds of disappointment for managers Jurgen Klopp and Slaven Bilic.

Anfield gaffer Klopp will likely be miffed that the many young players he handed starts to weren't bold and exuberant enough. Meanwhile, Hammers boss Bilic should be unhappy that the strong and more Premier League-tested squad he selected failed to make their experience count. 

Klopp surprisingly made 10 changes, introducing many young and fringe players, including midfielder Joao Carlos Teixeira. But he did include experienced centre-back Dejan Lovren, back from injury, along with towering striker Christian Benteke.

BT Sport Football provided the Reds' starting XI:

Benteke's inclusion provided plenty of talking points before the match. BBC pundit Martin Keown was confident the Belgian would have an impact, per BBC Match of the Day:

Meanwhile, ex-Liverpool striker and current BT Sport pundit Michael Owen explained how Klopp's team needs to adjust its style to suit Benteke's strengths, per BT Sport Football:

Hammers boss Slaven Bilic included cerebral schemer Dimitri Payet in a strong squad also featuring underrated striker Enner Valencia:

The opening exchanges were very cagey, with plenty of congestion in midfield and not a lot of composure on the ball from either side. Predictably, a first moment of real quality came from Payet, who nearly caught out Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet with a deceptive free-kick.

Klopp's refreshed squad took a while to get going but were soon receiving excellent contributions from a few youngsters. Playmaker Cameron Brannagan lofted a superb free-kick high into the box, from which Benteke really should have scored.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

The former Aston Villa man was put through by a smart pass from Teixeira soon after, but he couldn't reach the ball in time.

West Ham appealed for handball and a penalty when Cheikhou Kouyate rose to head across the box and the ball struck Brad Smith's arm, but the claim was quickly dismissed.

A clash of heads between James Tomkins and Joe Allen halted play, and the former needed to be replaced by Joey O'Brien.

Brannagan shone again when the 19-year-old lashed a low drive at goal that prompted a brilliant save from deputy 'keeper Darren Randolph.

Press Association reporter Carl Markham felt Brannagan was becoming increasingly influential:

Bilic was then forced into another change when Kouyate gave way to an apparent injury, being replaced by striker Nikica Jelavic. The reception from the Anfield crowd for the ex-Everton man was a typically frosty one.

At the other end, the Hammers defence was using a robust approach to help keep Benteke in check, according to Squawka:

West Ham players were aghast when referee Martin Atkinson declined to call a back-pass when Smith clearly nudged the ball back to a grateful Mignolet. Pedro Obiang then went close with a well-executed volley just before the half-time break.

The Hammers posed a major threat at the start of the second half when Jelavic flicked on a free-kick centre-back Winston Reid might have turned in. Liverpool's scrambled defending was desperate and there was an apparent handball by new Reds man Steven Caulker.

BT Sport provided footage of both of West Ham's claims for penalties:

Allen then wasted an excellent cross from right-back Nathaniel Clyne, who was finding a lot of room and joy out wide.

Liverpool began to grow into the game as Teixeira failed to make the most of a decent chance, but the Reds were passing the ball quickly and incisively in the middle and regularly releasing runners out wide. What was lacking was a quality final ball, as several crosses gave Benteke little chance.

As the tepid second half progressed, Benteke spurned a glorious chance after showing little confidence in his ability to shoot with his left foot. It was the kind of opportunity a confident striker would have finished.

The dying stages of the game limped forward without much incident. Both teams will now count the cost of incurring a replay.

Post-Match Reaction

Klopp told BT Sport his team was in control and did most of the attacking, but he rued their inability to finish moves:

The German also aimed a sarcastic barb at what a replay will mean for Liverpool's already congested fixture list, per Squawka News:

Despite the extra game, Bilic believes the burden of a replay will prove tougher for Liverpool whenever they visit the Boleyn Ground:

Bilic may have a point considering Liverpool also have the Capital One Cup final and UEFA Europa League duty to deal with in the next month. Klopp's already injury depleted squad could find itself stretched to breaking point, while Bilic will also have to adapt to losing players at Anfield.