Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and his first-team players will not be involved in the FA Cup fourth-round replay against Shrewsbury Town, the Reds manager has said.
The Premier League leaders surrendered a two-goal advantage against the League One side on Sunday after Klopp had made nine changes to the starting line-up.
At least four Premier League teams will need replays, which are scheduled for Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 February, meaning they will cut into the new mid-season break which runs between 2 and 16 February.
“I said to the boys already two weeks ago that we will have a winter break, which means we will not be there,” said Klopp.
“You cannot deal with us like nobody cares about it. I know that it’s not very popular but that’s the way I see it.
“The Premier League asked us to respect the winter break. That’s what we do. If the FA doesn’t respect that, then we cannot change it. We will not be there.”
Klopp said it “will be the kids who play” and also confirmed that reserve coach Neil Critchley, who took charge of the Carabao Cup quarter-final loss to Aston Villa in December while the first team were playing the World Club Cup, will again be in the dugout.
“We have to respect the players’ welfare. They need a rest. They need a mental rest, a physical rest, and that’s what the winter break is all about,” said Klopp.
“We had to make these decisions beforehand because these boys have families.”
As well as Shrewsbury’s visit to Anfield, Newcastle will travel to Oxford after a 0-0 draw at St James’ Park.
Tottenham and Southampton will have to meet again after drawing 1-1 on the south coast, with the date currently set for Wednesday, 5 February.
All replays could be moved for TV coverage.
What and when is the winter break?
This is the first season the Premier League has scheduled a winter break, albeit with a different format to leagues on the continent who take a few weeks off over Christmas.
In a letter sent to clubs from the Premier League in March, teams were told they were “expected to honour and respect the underlining rationale for the mid-season player break, namely to provide their players with a break from the physical and mental rigours of playing matches
during the season”.
“Clubs should not arrange competitive or friendly matches with other clubs during the mid-season player break,” the letter continued.
In the winter break, four Premier League matches will take place on the weekend of 8 February, with the other six the following weekend – with all the games on at different times and televised.
