Klopp trick that nobody noticed ensured Liverpool had the beating of Everton

Jurgen Klopp has never really been one for mind games when it comes to hoodwinking the opposition.

But, whether intentional or not, the Liverpool boss produced a textbook move ahead of the FA Cup showdown with Everton on Sunday.

One that ex-Reds favourite Peter Crouch, working on the game for the BBC, couldn't fail to spot.

Asked for his prediction by anchorman and former Blues striker Gary Lineker, Crouch responded: "Well, the pressure is all on Everton... so Liverpool win."

By naming a scratch side showing nine changes from the one that had beaten Sheffield United in the Premier League three days earlier, Klopp instantly took the weight of expectation off his mixture of senior professionals and fledgling youngsters.

Carrying such a burden has rarely been easy for Everton in recent times, particularly during a Merseyside derby.

And the longer the game progressed, the more Liverpool gained in confidence, the more the Blues began to buckle.

It meant when Curtis Jones curled in his brilliant winner 19 minutes from time - a strike that those who have followed the player's journey through the under-18, U19 and U23 ranks will have seen several times before - Carlo Ancelotti's side had no answer.

Liverpool were vibrant. Everton, by contrast, couldn't cope.

But there was another move Klopp made that went a significant way to ensuring progress to the fourth round.

Focus after the match was rightly on the gaggle of youngsters who shot to prominence: Jones with his goal, Harvey Elliott with his consistent tormenting of Lucas Digne, Neco Williams with his effervescent approach down the right both in defence and attack, Yasser Larouci likewise on the left, Pedro Chirivella with his passing ability and Nat Phillips with his increasingly composed showing at centre-back.

However, they were allowed to prosper because of who was alongside them.

Straight down the centre of the team, Klopp selected a strong spine of experience and talent that gave the fledgling talent - and new arrival Takumi Minamino - an opportunity to concentrate on their natural game.

In goal, Adrian not only made a number of important stops in the first half, he also gave vocal encouragement to a backline further unbalanced by the early departure of old head James Milner.

At centre-back, Joe Gomez subsequently revelled in his role as senior defender, while ahead of him in midfield, Adam Lallana embraced the responsibility having been handed the captain's armband once Milner was substituted.

And in attack, Divock Origi, although employed ostensibly on the left, was often the focal point, a consistent pain to the Blues defence.

The value of such a strong heartbeat was underlined in this season's League Cup run. While not quite as strong in the early rounds as on Sunday, Liverpool had enough senior professionals to help the starlets through against MK Dons and Arsenal.

But without the steadying influence - and, of course, Klopp also not being present - a young side impressed with their technical ability but were well beaten at Aston Villa in the quarter-final last month.

The mix on Sunday was sufficient to land a psychological blow on Everton before impressing on the field.

How far Liverpool now progress in the FA Cup could well depend on how strong Klopp wants his spine to remain in the competition.