Liverpool’s senior players will sit out their FA Cup replay with Shrewsbury.
Sunday’s 2-2 draw at New Meadow means the Reds have to again to take on the League One outfit at Anfield in the week commencing February 3.
But Jurgen Klopp has revealed that the runaway Premier League leaders are preparing to omit their first-team squad for the fourth-round encounter.
The European champions are scheduled to start their winter break preparations following next weekend’s visit of Southampton.
In accordance with advice from the Premier League, Klopp confirmed that his strongest line-up will not feature against the Shropshire-based club.
“We got a letter in April from the Premier League that we should respect the winter break for the players,” said the Liverpool manager.
Separately, Klopp will delegate match duties to under-23 coach Neil Critchley, who took charge for the Carabao Cup quarter-final exit to Aston Villa.
Critchley oversaw a 6-0 humbling at Villa Park while Liverpool’s senior squad were in Qatar as part of their triumphant FIFA Club World Cup campaign.
“We’ve known for a couple of weeks, in fact we’ve known longer, that it would be like this,” said the Liverpool manager.
“In April 2019 we got a letter from the Premier League where they asked us to respect the winter break and not to organise friendlies or competitive games. We respect that.
“So I said to the boys already two weeks ago that we will have a winter break which means we will not be there. It will be the kids who play that game.
“You cannot deal with us like nobody cares about it. I know that it’s not very popular but that’s the way I see it.
“The Premier League asked us to respect the winter break. That’s what we do. If the FA doesn’t respect that, then we cannot change it. We will not be there.
“Does that mean I won’t be there? Yes. Neil Critchley will be in charge.
“We have to respect the players’ welfare. They need a rest. They need a mental rest, a physical rest, and that’s what the winter break is all about.
“Then another competition tells us that’s not so important so we had to make these decisions beforehand because these boys have families.
“International players like Jordan Henderson, Virgil van Dijk, Gini Wijnaldum, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, all these guys, they are never off.”
A second-half brace by substitute Jason Cummings saw Shrewbury cancel out Liverpool’s early lead from a Curtis Jones strike and Donald Love’s own goal.