---

Shrewsbury Town 2 - 2 Liverpool

Liverpool: Jones 15’, Love (og) 46’
Shrewsbury Town: Cummings 65’, 75’

---

Pre-Match

Liverpool make 11 changes to the side that played on Thursday. As expected, it’s a mixture of the youth squad that dominated Everton in the last round of the cup, reserve players, and a players working for match fitness after injury layoffs. Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip return from injury to partner in the center of defense, while Naby Keita is fit for the bench. Shrewsbury Town line ups include 11 players who are confirmed to be living and breathing with names and everything.

First Half

It’s a great atmosphere at the New Meadow as Shrewsbury Town kick off to start the match. Liverpool unsurprisingly look a little disjointed to start off, but quickly display their quality as Pedro Chirivella plays a nice through ball to Neco Williams on the right flank, but the whipped in cross is blocked with Divock Origi lurking.

It looks to be Takumi Minamino playing through the center, with Divock Origi on the left. Minamino dropping deep into the hole early on to combine with the midfielders.

Speaking of those two, Minamino makes a great turn with the ball after he dropped deep to receive it, then deftly threads a ball through to Origi. Origi lashes a shot from the top of the box, but it flies just wide of the far post. Nice moment there.

Neco Williams drives in a tantalizing cross from the right flank for Minamino, but it’s juuuuust an in or two in front of him. That was shades of Trent Alexander-Arnold whipping that ball into Roberto Firmino there.

Goal - Curtis Jones!!!! Pedro Chirivella slides a beautiful ball into Jones, who times his run in behind the defense perfectly. Jones still has some work to do as he enters the box, but he confidently slots the ball past the advancing keeper and into the far post.

Curtis Jones and Takumi Minamino doing a great job of interchanging to confuse defenders. Jones is making runs into the space created as Minamino drops deep. Shrewsbury defenders are getting dragged all over the place by the intelligent movement.

Big save by Adrian! Shrewsbury does a great job winning the ball in midfield and immediately counter attacking. The ball was played into Shaun Whalley, who is clean through, but Adrian comes out quickly and makes a kick save in the 1v1.

Shrewsbury are forced into an early change as Oliver Norburn was unable to shake off a clash of knees a few minutes earlier.

Shrewsbury get away with one, as a defender throws his arm out in front of another Neco Williams cross in the box. It’s missed by the referee, and there is no VAR to “save Liverpool” today, so no PK is given.

Whalley with another chance, but flashes his shot across the face of goal. Liverpool have dominated possession, but Shrewsbury have shown that they can get in behind the Liverpool defense on the counter.

Fabinho shanks a pass back to Adrian, and it goes out for a corner. The resulting corner ping-ponged in and out of the box, and eventually to a Shrewsbury player behind the Liverpool defenders. The resulting shot is weak and right at Adrian. The first half whistle blows a few seconds later as Liverpool take a 1-0 lead to the dressing room.

Halftime Thoughts

Liverpool have dominated possession, but Shrewsbury have shown no fear when they’ve had the chance to attack, carving out a few good chances. Still, it is a deserved lead for Liverpool at the half. Takumi Minamino and Pedro Chirivella have both looked very good, while Fabinho and Joel Matip have both looked quite rusty.

Second Half

Goal Liverpool!!! It’s an own goal just 30 seconds into the second half. Neco Williams lofts a cross towards the back post, and Donald Love just mishits the ball as he tries to guide it behind, and tucks is just inside the post. He wasn’t under much pressure, so it was a pretty tough own goal to give away. Love was a Manchester United academy graduate, so I guess we can’t feel too bad.

Pedro Chirivella wins a ball on the halfway line, and again picks out the run of Curtis Jones. The ball has a little too much pace on it, and the keeper is able to claim the ball just in front of Jones at the top of the box.

Another big save for Adrian! Yasser Larouci was again caught upfield int he attack, and the ball got played into the space behind him to Callum Lang. The Shrewsbury forward takes an early shot towards the far post as Larouci tries to run him down, but Adrian gets down well to put the ball past the post. That was Lang’s last contribution for the night as he is subbed off.

Yikes, Matip with a poor pass gives the ball to Shrewsbury deep in Liverpool’s territory. Luckily, the shot is well wide of Adrian’s goal. Shrewsbury is definitely growing in confidence as the game goes on.

Penalty to Shrewsbury as Josh Laruent gets in behind the Liverpool defense. Larouci comes flying in and takes out Laurent, and the referee points to the spot. Lauruci gets a yellow card as well.

Goal Shrewsbury - the substitute Jason Cummings, who just came on the field, sends Adrian the wrong way.

Penalty shout for Minamino, who goes down under pressure in the Shrewsbury box. The referee wants none of it, and Shrewsbury immediately attack down on the other end of the field. This time, it’s snuffed out, thankfully. Liverpool look sloppy and unsettled right now.

Sub for Liverpool - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain comes on for Harvey Elliott in the 70th minute. Elliott showed some flashes, but wasn’t nearly as influential as he was against Everton. Still, not a bad shift from the 16 year old.

Goal Shrewsbury - It’s Cummings again on the counter. Divock Origi has a shot from distance well saved, and the resulting punt isn’t dealt with by Joel Matip. Cummings continues his run in behind, and slides the ball underneath the advancing Adrian.

Sub for Liverpool - Mohamed Salah comes on to try and win the tie for Liverpool. Joel Matip is withdrawn, and it looks like Fabinho will drop back into center back.

Sub for Shrewsbury - The League One side bring in striker Daniel Udoh for Whaley.

Sub for Liverpool - Klopp does NOT want to see a replay, and he brings Roberto Firmino in Takumi Minamino. The Japanese striker played well today.

Liverpool dodge a bullet as a hand ball appeal on Fabinho is waved off by the referee. The ball bounced up behind him and hit his arm after it was crossed in. Fabinho had no idea where the ball had gone, plus who knows what a hand ball is these days.

ALMOST - Firmino does his brilliant work in the box, and tries to bead the keeper from a tight angle. The ball pops out, and Curtis Jones threw himself at it to knock it in. A Shrewsbury defender gets down to block it.

ANOTHER CHANCE - Firmino tracks down a cross, turns, and puts it back, but Salah’s glancing header goes just wide. Liverpool starting to get on the front foot again here late.

Save for Adrian - Laurent does some more good work down the right wing. His cross starts fading in towards the near post, and Adrian has to fly across goal to palm it around the post for a corner.

Final whistle, and it ends 2-2 as the Shrewsbury fans storm the field.

Final Thoughts

Liverpool came completely undone in the second half after having the better of the first half. A draw was probably the worst possible result, as there will be yet another game added to Liverpool’s extremely busy schedule.

Winners and Losers

Pedro Chirivella again showed stellar vision and a great passing range from his central midfield role. Takumi Minamino put in a hardworking shift, and his movement and runs are extremely intelligent. Credit to Shrewsbury for staying with it, especially after giving up an awful own goal early in the second half. Jason Cummings with the brace for

Fabinho and Joel Matip looked very rusty after their injury layoffs. Yasser Larouci was picked on repeatedly as the youngster was frequently caught up field, and gave away a penalty.

What Happens Next

Liverpool get caught back up on games in the Premier League as they take on West Ham on Wednesday. They can extend their lead atop the table to 19 points. The replay with Shrewsbury will be at Anfield the first week of February.