Youth Likely to Take a Backseat Under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in 2016/17

Liverpool eased past Championship side Burton Albion in the second round of the EFL Cup, taking away a 5-0 victory from the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday night.

The goals arrived from Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino inside the first 22 minutes. A Tom Naylor own goal made it three after half-time before substitute Daniel Sturridge added two more late on to provide the icing on the cake for Jurgen Klopp's side.

It was the ideal response after the disappointment of the 2-0 defeat at Burnley four days earlier in the Premier League.

There were plenty of positives for Liverpool supporters to take from the game, not least man-of-the-match Sadio Mane's performance as he opened up the Burton defence time and again, showing the pace, trickery and direct dribbling that the Reds have lacked in the last two seasons.

Mane returned to the lineup having missed the trip to Turf Moor with a shoulder injury—thankfully an injury that didn't prove as serious as first feared. The Senegal international is already becoming the main man just three games into the 2016/17 season.

Joining Mane in the starting XI were a trio of players you'd expect to feature in Klopp's strongest lineups this season: new signing Joel Matip, midfielder Emre Can and Origi—each making their first start of the season.

That quartet gave Liverpool a whole new look—far more composed, far more fluid in attack and far more balanced in midfield, particularly with Can able to play the holding role and Jordan Henderson his more natural box-to-box role.

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Can is the fulcrum in Klopp's side in 2016/17, the player designated to sit in midfield and mesh together the defence and attack. It's a huge responsibility for the 22-year-old German, who hasn't really played such a role consistently before.

Whenever deployed in midfield for Liverpool previously, Can has been in a two-man midfield within a 4-2-3-1 shape. The change to 4-3-3 this season is one that relies on him adapting to the role—and staying fit for the full campaign.

When Can pulled up with an ankle injury after around 70 minutes, it was a heart-in-the-mouth moment for Liverpool. Having failed to address the need for a defensive midfielder who can play either alongside or instead of Can this summer, Klopp's plans are vulnerable to such injuries.

The manager explained post-match it was the same ankle Can had an injury in at the end of last season but hoped it was not that serious. Losing the Germany international would set Klopp's plans back, having already changed tack with no left-back acquired and Mamadou Sakho being made available for loan, per the Telegraph's Chris Bascombe.

Selection

Aside from Philippe Coutinho, Klopp named his strongest XI available. A bold move for a second-round tie against Burton in the League Cup.

Had Can, or anyone else, picked up an injury ahead of the trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, Klopp's decision to play such a strong side could have backfired dramatically.

Of course, there are always two sides to the selection; either it was refreshing to see such a strong team or foolish given the quality of opposition.

It was a team—and bench—packed with internationals. There were no fringe players involved and no youth players offered their chance.

Klopp's team selection told us plenty about his ideas for the season and plans for individual players.

Lazar Markovic can pack his bags now, safe in the knowledge he'll be leaving before the transfer window closes next week. If he isn't going to make the squad for this game, he never is.

Academy midfielder Cameron Brannagan, whose loan move to Wigan Athletic fell through last week, is another who will know his chances won't be arriving this season. The 20-year-old played for the Reds' under-23s on Monday night instead.

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Two who travelled to Staffordshire but didn't make the squad were new signing Marko Grujic and academy prospect Trent Alexander-Arnold. Both will remain at the club this season, but on this evidence, they will have to be patient for their chance.

Klopp had warned of this pre-match, per the Press Association (h/t This Is Anfield):

"

We will make changes but not big changes, it is not really likely we change seven or eight positions.

Of course we respect the opponent but it is not the moment to rest someone but we have a few players who are now in a good shape and they have two weeks' more pre-season, if you like, more to train.

I cannot give all players together the opportunity to play. Sometimes we have to work longer to change the situation.

"

Instead, the manager used the match almost as an extension of pre-season, allowing Matip to make his competitive debut for the club and giving Can and Origi their first starts of the season.

Giving these key players game time was preferred to offering opportunities to those on the fringes of the squad.

And that could well be the case going forward this season. With no European football on offer and the FA Cup not beginning until January, the League Cup offers the only slim possibility for such squad players.

Squad

Last season saw 19 debutants at Liverpool, nine of whom were players from the club's academy ranks. In total, 39 players were used across the campaign. Neither of those numbers will be remotely repeated this season.

So far, 21 players have been named on the Liverpool teamsheet in their three opening fixtures. Three of those haven't appeared yet—Alex Manninger, Alexander-Arnold and Danny Ings—while Loris Karius will add to that number once he returns from injury.

Lucas Leiva, Sheyi Ojo and Joe Gomez are the other injured players you'd expect to appear once they return, making 25 in total.

That looks like being Klopp's squad, at least for the first half of the campaign—a similar number of players used by Leicester City last season.

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The likes of Brannagan, Pedro Chirivella and Connor Randall don't look likely to feature, nor will 16-year-old forward Ben Woodburn—who caught the eye in pre-season but is set for a season developing in the under-23s.

When Klopp arrived at Anfield, he spoke of overhauling the club's approach to how they loan players, with 19 players starting last season out on temporary moves. But what he's quickly learned is that the loan system is required to give youngsters their opportunity in professional football.

Already this summer, eight Liverpool players have gone out on loan, with Brannagan likely to join them. Randall and Chirivella would also benefit from time playing competitive football.

Meanwhile, Mario Balotelli, Luis Alberto and Andre Wisdom haven't found new homes yet, so they could yet add to that loan list—and, of course, there's the potential of Sakho joining them. Quite quickly, you're back up with a similar figure to last season despite short-term loans now being removed this summer.

The 2016/17 season looks like being one where Klopp works with a small squad, seeking to get the best from them via training and playing together.

Nine academy debuts and 39 players used won't be repeated this season.