Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will not go to Anfield on the night of the club’s FA Cup replay with Shrewsbury Town and says his fight for a Premier League winter break has become a ‘matter of principle’.

After confirming he will stay away from the stadium rather than watch the club’s Under 23 side try to secure a fifth round trip to Chelsea, Klopp says he feels compelled to take a stand against the FA’s decision to schedule cup replays at a time when players and staff have been instructed by the Premier League to ‘respect’ the rest period.

Klopp insisted Under 23 coach Neil Critchley should manage the team he leads all season, although many of those who featured in earlier rounds such as Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Neco Williams will be available.

“What difference would it make? Why should I be there? Give me a reason why I should?” said Klopp, when asked why he would not even sit in the Directors’ Box.

“I said it already. On the football side it is clear and the other thing is we have to make a stand. We had to make a decision. I think it's necessary that these boys, these all-time players who constantly play, get their time off. We are a football team and we are a group together. We are all or nobody. We had to make the decision then and we made it.

“Of course we thought we would win [the first game], but we didn't and although it was not in the beginning it is now a principle thing. They scored the equaliser and I thought, 'Okay now we have to stick to it’.”