Saturday 9 January 2016 13:08, UK
Jurgen Klopp insisted he was to blame for his side's failure to beat League Two opponents Exeter City in the FA Cup on Friday evening.
Exeter earned a lucrative third-round replay at Anfield with a 2-2 draw having twice taken the lead at St James Park.
Tom Nichols' shock opener for Exeter was cancelled out by young forward Jerome Sinclair, but Liverpool goalkeeper Adam Bogdan conceded direct from a Lee Holmes' corner to give the hosts a half-time lead.
And Exeter looked on course to book their place in the fourth round for the first time since 1981 before a late equaliser from Brad Smith rescued a replay for the Merseysiders.
Klopp, who was without 13 regular first-team players, changed his entire starting line up from the one that beat Stoke City 1-0 in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday and said his young side, with an average age of just 22, was not to blame for the disappointing result.
"If you want to criticise somebody, do it with me and leave the players alone," he said.
"These players worked, they tried, and if they have made mistakes, it's my responsibility. If they are not good in one-on-ones, it's the responsibility of all LFC coaches, if they are not good with a header, responsibility of all coaches of LFC and not the players."
Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren are currently among Liverpool's defensive casualties, but Klopp is optimistic some of those names will return to the fold in the coming days.
"We had more games than some other teams because we are still in the Capital One Cup, we are still in the Europa League. The main problem we have is because our centre-backs are injured at this moment," Klopp said.
"We had five centre-backs at the beginning of the season and, at this moment, we have no centre-backs. But next week it could be different and we will have to see what we can do."
Liverpool had never previously lost to a fourth-tier side in 13 FA Cup matches and Klopp felt his young side came through a tough test, citing the condition of the pitch as an advantage for the home side.
"They played really good, it was a difficult pitch for both teams. Like I said, it helps if you know where you can play your football. It was an advantage for Exeter, they know the pitch better than we do," he added.
"They were strong on the wing and quick in transition. They did really good and scored a spectacular goal from the corner.
"That's how it is, the pitch helped Exeter a bit more than it helped us, but that's normal. They did well, it was a good atmosphere and for me a good experience in my first round of the FA Cup."
Klopp insisted Liverpool's narrow escape in Devon would have no bearing on his selection for the Anfield return.
"The situation doesn't change, we will play the same team," Klopp said. "We have to see the young players, I can't change it. We have to give intensity to different players.
"We have to do this and accept what happens in the FA Cup."
