COMMENT
Liverpool’s biggest home attendance in the FA Cup since March 1977 waited for the magic, but all they witnessed was the mundane in a goalless draw against Plymouth Argyle.
Except, of course, if they were in the vocal and blissful away end, which housed just over 8,600 of the 52,692 in attendance.
The previous 11 games at Anfield this season had produced 30 goals for the Reds, but Plymouth’s dedicated resistance would ensure there was to be no such flurry on Sunday afternoon.
As per Jurgen Klopp’s assessment, "they did everything they needed to do to deserve a replay" with their "very disciplined" approach.
And so Liverpool, after trips to Southampton in the League Cup semi-final and Manchester United in a blockbuster top-flight tussle, will have to go again - 294 miles to Home Park and back.
The Reds boss made 10 alterations for the third-round tie, with Emre Can the only player to keep his place in the rotation, while Joe Gomez ended a 462-day wait to make his bow under the German following a lengthy injury lay-off.
The 19-year-old, featuring in his preferred centre-back position for the first time since signing from Charlton in the summer of 2015 having been used as a left-back by previous manager Brendan Rodgers, was composed, strong and showed snapshots of his stellar recovery speed and reading of the game.
He was not alone in furthering his aspirations with the senior side, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Woodburn and Ovie Ejaria again a credit to the club’s academy as Liverpool fielded their youngest-ever team.
The average age of the starting line-up was 21 years and 296 days, beating the XI in a 3-1 win against Wolves in 1965, registered at 22 years and 303 days.
Despite the shuffle, their conquering of the ball was impressive even though it was aided in part by the visitors, who displayed zero attacking ambition and were solely intent on nullifying Liverpool’s.
Plymouth were content to allow Klopp’s side to construct from the back, only crowding them out in the final third of the pitch.
They had, like the large cruise liners that dock in the Mersey, anchored themselves in front of the dominant hosts, who lacked the patience and decision-making to foil their deep defensive line.
There was not a single shot attempted by Derek Adams' charges in the first 45, and goalkeeper Luke McCormick had completed their most passes, with the entire team failing to string together a century of them by the break.
The combined distribution stats of just Lucas and Kevin Stewart had surpassed Plymouth’s total, but the only number that mattered to them was the scoreline.
The best opportunity of a colourless first half fell to Woodburn, who caught the eye with his ability to ghost into space and be both effective and captivating in possession.
After being supplied by Can, it was the feet of McCormick that denied the 17-year-old at the near post after he managed to get an effort away despite the attention of two markers.
Divock Origi did manage to bulldoze through Plymouth’s wall and fire into the back of the net, but he was adjudged to have bullied Gary Miller in the process and the goal was disallowed.
Jordan Slew won a free-kick just before the interval which had the away side in their most advanced and threatening position of the half, but it was wasted.
Daniel Sturridge’s introduction for Can after the hour-mark gave Liverpool more gravitas in the opposition area, the England international rattling off a shot that went just wide as his first contribution.
He spotted Ejaria’s run and tried to feed him, but his pass over the top was a touch too heavy and McCormick gathered.
The young midfielder and Woodburn made way to a standing ovation after yet another encouraging outing, with Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino replacing them as Klopp turned to his game changers in an attempt to avoid a replay.
But there was to be no breakthrough and simply another date for Liverpool to add to their diary in an already packed scheduled.
"Yippee" was the ironic response of the manager to an added fixture after he admitted his men "could have 100 per cent done better".
He said: "It was really difficult because in the first half, when we had fresh legs and were clear in mind, we started well but then we lost patience too early. That’s how it is: crossing in the wrong moment, not crossing in the wrong moment, passing not really convinced, more an opportunity than a real offer, all that stuff.
"We had these situations. We were a little bit unlucky in one or two situations, good goalkeeper saves and then it’s 0-0. So, not too cool but not the worst thing in the world. And, of course, deserved for Plymouth."
Liverpool, though, extended their unbeaten run at Anfield to 25 matches and have suffered just one defeat in their last 23 clashes across all competitions.
Just as the games keep coming, Klopp will want his team to continue their encouraging form in 2016-17.
