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Liverpool's Youngsters Outshine Seniors to Earn Opportunity in Replay vs. Exeter

Liverpool's youngsters twice came from behind to salvage a draw and take the FA Cup third-round tie with League Two Exeter City to a replay.

Jurgen Klopp fielded a completely changed starting XI from the last match, against Stoke City in the League Cup semi-final three days earlier, and opted to hand debuts to five players in the match—Tiago Ilori, Ryan Kent and Kevin Stewart from the start, and Sheyi Ojo and Joe Maguire as substitutes.

With 13 first-team players sidelined through injury, and home games against Arsenal and Manchester United next week, Klopp felt he simply had to put out a makeshift side and protect the players he does have currently fit and available—providing them with a six-day recovery period between the Stoke and Arsenal games.