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Jurgen Klopp insists he has no option but to field a shadow Liverpool side in Saturday’s FA Cup clash with West Ham as he vowed: “I won’t run my players into the ground.”

The Reds boss says a host of first-team regulars will be rested for the fourth round tie at Anfield with one eye on Tuesday’s Premier League trip to Leicester City.

Klopp revealed that Liverpool covered a “record breaking” 156km in the gruelling midweek Capital One Cup semi-final with Stoke and that dramatic triumph has taken its toll.

As a result he will put his faith in the youngsters who helped the Reds get past Exeter City in the last round. It’s a gamble considering that the Hammers, who have completed a league double over Liverpool already this season, represent a much higher calibre of opposition.

But Klopp believes with the backing of a capacity Anfield crowd his young guns will rise to the challenge.

“It was easy to be brave against Exeter but sometimes you have to be brave in a moment when you really need it and that’s what we’re doing now,” Klopp said.

“But I don’t feel that I’m being too brave because I trust these players.

“If we could win the Capital One Cup it would be a cup for the whole squad because we played different teams. Against Bournemouth it was a very young team, and if we go through in the FA Cup it will be the same.

“We can’t ignore the other games. I can’t say ‘try it again’. If they are injured we cannot use them and if we know about the intensity of the last game and the short break to the next one I can’t say ‘go again until you lay on the ground’. That doesn’t work so there’s no alternative for us.”

Dejan Lovren will return from a hamstring injury to partner on-loan Steven Caulker, who will make his full debut at centre-back.

Brad Smith, Cameron Brannagan, Joe Allen, Christian Benteke, Jordon Ibe and Joao Carlos Teixeira are among those expected to start. Kevin Stewart, Pedro Chirivella and Connor Randall are also in contention. Klopp must decide whether to retain the services of keeper Simon Mignolet or hand a debut to Danny Ward.

“I will talk to John Achterberg before we make a decision on that,” Klopp said.

“All the players with fresh legs and a normal situation like Dejan Lovren and Steve Caulker will play of course.

“Then all the other positions we have to fill and that means we will have to bring the young lads. We have seen them have good games and now it’s the next step. I know it’s West Ham and of course that’s a different thing to play against them in the shape they’re in.

“At this moment it’s very different but we want to go through and we need the crowd to create an atmosphere for us again. We’ve had a really good week in terms of results and atmospheres. Let’s create something else special.

“Let’s have another good night together. It’s difficult but possible.”

The fixtures just keep on coming...

Klopp says the total of 156km Liverpool covered during 120 minutes against Stoke on Tuesday night was the highest figure he had ever seen from one of his teams. Vice-captain James Milner put in the biggest shift with more than 17km.

Saturday’s tie represents the Reds’ fifth game in the space of 13 days and their ninth in the space of 28 days during a hectic January.

“In England there are only two clubs in all competitions and that’s Man City and ourselves,” Klopp said.

“Since Norwich (last weekend) I heard Leicester had three days off and Tottenham were in Barcelona. We played and that’s a big difference,

“Stoke was not the best game ever but it was very intensive. We broke all records. Both teams were fighting for each yard and we can’t ignore this, we won’t ignore this.

“We cannot say ‘c’mon it’s West Ham and then again against Leicester’. It doesn’t work like this so we have to make changes, but only because we want to win the game. The boys who start will give everything to get through to the next round.”

Klopp admits there’s been a buzz around Melwood this week in the wake of Liverpool’s penalty shootout triumph over Stoke which booked them a trip to Wembley.

It followed hot on the heels of the Reds’ last-gasp 5-4 league victory at Norwich. Klopp is delivering on his promise to ensure his side fight to the bitter end and find a way to win.

“Obviously when I came here we had to turn a few screws and try to make something different,” he added.

“This is not an easy season for Liverpool when you can go through thinking you’re better than this team and better than that team.

“There have been a lot of changes and everyone can see it’s a difficult season because of the quality of all of the teams.

“The games are more intensive and sometimes the other teams are coming with a week’s break when you have only had three days and that makes a big difference.

“The league is close. For us it’s not easy but we will try to get what we can. Until now it has worked. We are really in an improved situation. Everything would be perfect if we had four points more.

“Even the way we have worked so far is positive. On the pitch we have had one or two really bad games, Newcastle and West Ham, but the rest were average-plus or really good. We are in a good way.”