LIVERPOOL’S first-team players and manager were absent on Tuesday night as a young side consisting mostly of teenagers saw the club through to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup.

Absent, that is, apart from James Milner who hung around, not for brownie points — Liverpool’s vice-captain has no need for those at this stage of his career—but simply because he likes football.

Milner likes training so much that he asked to be involved in the pre-match sessions as Neil Critchley and his under 23 players prepared to face League One side Shrewsbury Town.

“He trained with us yesterday and he asked whether he could come along,” revealed Critchley. 

“I was like: ‘I think the answer is yes to that one! Of course you can!’ It was very respectful of him to ask. 

“He said: ‘Can I come in the dressing room?’ You’re thinking: ‘What do you think? Of course!’ He has achieved so much in the game because of who he is. 

“He was giving words of advice, he was getting right behind the players, he was vocal in the dressing room and he was animated behind me during the game. I could hear him!"

Liverpool dominated the game and Shrewsbury had little to offer in attack. Their manager, Sam Ricketts, put it down to tiredness and fatigue following a busy schedule.

It was gone three in the morning by the time they arrived home from their midweek game against Gillingham last week and then a trip to Rochdale at the weekend also took its toll on the players and staff.

For Liverpool, whose team which took to the pitch had an average age of just 19 years and 102 days — their youngest-ever side, it was still a massive achievement.

Critchley thanked the fans for providing them with a moment he and his players will never forget.

If any of these young players go on to great things in their careers, which looking at the likes of Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Neco Williams, seems more than likely, then those in attendance at Anfield on Tuesday night can say “I was there,” as can James Milner.