Juergen Klopp’s decision to field Liverpool’s youngest-ever team backfired on Sunday as the Premier League title contender was held to a 0-0 draw at home by fourth-tier Plymouth in the third round of the FA Cup.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino also made sweeping changes and was made to sweat as his side left it late to beat second-tier Aston Villa, 2-0.
Chelsea had an easier time, sweeping aside third-tier Peterborough 4-1, with Spanish forward Pedro scoring twice.
With games coming thick and fast during the festive season and a midweek trip to Southampton looming in the first leg of the League Cup semifinals, Klopp made 10 changes from the team that drew 2-2 with Sunderland last Monday.
But instead of keeping players rested for other competitions, the Liverpool manager now faces an unwanted replay at Plymouth.
“It’s my responsibility, the whole thing, the lineup and performance. We could have done better,” Klopp said. “If you want to see it (the result) in a bad way, then I am 100 percent responsible, I have no problem with that.”
Liverpool is in second place in the Premier League, well-positioned to challenge for the title. Plymouth is second, too, but in the far less glamorous League Two. Despite this, it still seemed a risky move by Klopp to select a team with an average age of 21 years, 296 days.
The 17-year-old Ben Woodburn — Liverpool’s youngest-ever scorer — made his full debut alongside 19-year-olds Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo in a three-man attacking midfield supporting lone striker Divock Origi. Trent Alexander-Arnold made only his second Liverpool start.
Attacking midfielder Adam Lallana, forward Roberto Firmino and England striker Daniel Sturridge were on the bench.
Woodburn and Ojo went close early on as Liverpool dominated. But for all of its possession, Liverpool struggled to create further chances.
Klopp brought on Sturridge shortly after the hour mark, and he went close almost immediately with a low shot past the right post.
Sturridge then clipped another shot narrowly wide as Liverpool continued to push forward. But even with the introduction of Lallana and Firmino late on — and six minutes of injury time — the winner never came.
There were no such frustrations for Chelsea, with Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi and Brazil midfielder Willian getting the other goals.
Defender Ben Davies put Tottenham ahead and South Korea forward Son Heung-min scored for Tottenham in the last 20 minutes, while Middlesbrough eased past second-tier Sheffield Wednesday, 3-0.
Also, 16-year-old Ryan Sessegnon scored Fulham’s winner in a 2-1 win at Cardiff — a match pitting teams from the second-tier Championship.
Defending champion Manchester United crushed Championship side Reading, 4-0, on Saturday, but the Premier League’s Bournemouth, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke lost to lower-league opponents, while Arsenal needed a late winner against Preston to reach the fourth round.