Liverpool were taken to another FA Cup replay as their wasteful finishing led to a 0-0 draw with West Ham United in the fourth round at Anfield on Saturday evening.

Joao Carlos Teixeira had the home side's best opportunities as a youthful starting eleven was left frustrated by back-up goalkeeper Darren Randolph, who also thwarted Cameron Brannagan and Christian Benteke.

But even with West Ham unusually below-par, Liverpool could not find the breakthrough a face a trip to Upton Park in a replay to reach the fifth round of the competition.

Reds once again opt for younger side due to packed fixture schedule

Having utilised the club's Academy prospects to get past Exeter City in a replay in the previous roundJürgen Klopp once again turned to the youth with the midfield containing Kevin Stewart and Cameron Brannagan as he made a total of 10 changes to the team that reached the Capital One Cup final via penalties in midweek.

With Joe Allen's recent form seeing him rewarded with the captaincy, loanee Steven Caulker made his first start in defence alongside the returning Dejan Lovren, with Jordon Ibe and Christian Benteke also adding some extra know-how and experience. 

By contrast, the visitors fielded a strong side - including their creative heartbeat Dmitri Payet - but were underwhelming as a much-changed Liverpool squad matched them punch-for-punch.

Even from the outset, Klopp's charges looked purposeful in their build-up - as Brannagan, one of the best performers on the evening, fired over on his left foot after Ibe had cut in from the left side.

Kevin Stewart was one of the Reds' best performers on the day. (Picture: Getty Image)
Kevin Stewart was one of the Reds' best performers on the day. (Picture: Getty Image)

But clear cut chances were at a premium in the early stages, Payet close to catching out Mignolet as he spotted the 'keeper too far over one side of his goal and tried to pick out the vacant bottom corner with his free-kick from distance, which hit the outside of the post.

Just minutes later, Enner Valencia had an ideal opportunity to test Mignolet as Lovren missed Aaron Cresswell's inviting cross, but though the ball fell to Valencia in space - he got his header all wrong. 

But for the most-part, the home side looked the more likely of opening the scoring as Ibe exchanged an encouraging one-two with Teixeira before the former's cross in search of Benteke was cleared for a corner.

Randolph in excellent form as Liverpool fail to find the opener

From the resulting set-piece, Benteke rose to meet Brannagan's cross only for Cresswell to be on hand to clear off of the line at the back post.

Teixeira's interplay continued to cause West Ham problems, as he fed an almost perfect through ball for Benteke - who couldn't beat Randolph to it.

Brannagan finally brought a truly superb save out of Randolph. After Ibe found the teenager in space in a central area, the midfielder strode forward a few yards before driving a powerful left-footed drive from 25-yards destined for the bottom corner, only for the 'keeper's fingertips to push it past the post.

Randolph was in excellent form to keep a sixth clean sheet in just eight West Ham games. (Picture: Getty Image)
Randolph was in excellent form to keep a sixth clean sheet in just eight West Ham games. (Picture: Getty Image)

After West Ham were forced into two substitutions just after the half-hour, with Joey O'Brien replacing James Tomkins after a clash of heads with Allen and Nikica Jelavic coming on for Cheikhou Kouyate, Brannagan wasted a free-kick from a dangerous position on the edge of the area, hitting his set-piece straight into the wall.

In response, the away side almost broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time as Benteke flicked clear O'Brien's cross and it fell perfectly for Pedro Obiang, who studied the flight of the ball before striking a sweet volley that was inches outside of Mignolet's right post.

Reds continually denied by Randolph throughout second half

Liverpool were once again the better side after the break, creating more regular opportunities - but still they were frustrated. 

They were somewhat fortunate not to have conceded a penalty when substitute Jelavic flicked on Payet's free-kick delivery and the ball struck the arm of Caulker, though match official Martin Atkinson refused to point to the spot.

Nathaniel Clyne was the next to go close for the hosts, firing a swerving left-footer a yard or so wide of the far top corner, before Allen wasted a gilt-edged chance on the hour mark after running onto Clyne's inside pass, putting his shot into Row Z of the Kop.

The Reds continued to ramp up the pressure as they went in search of what could prove the pivotal goal, with Randolph once again required to deny Teixeira's powerful strike after the Portuguese playmaker was found by Brad Smith inside the area.

On 68 minutes, Benteke should have done better after Stewart's shot fell from the edge of the box fortuitously fell at his feet just yards out - but he couldn't react quick enough to direct the ball goalwards.

Benteke once again failed to provide the firepower Liverpool desperately needed. (Picture: Getty Image)
Benteke once again failed to provide the firepower Liverpool desperately needed. (Picture: Getty Image)

Randolph thwarted Teixeira a second time as the game wore on, as Ibe fed the 23-year-old - but the 'keeper again got good hands to his shot from just eight yards out. 

With a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, Randolph produced three strong saves in quick succession as he dived to his right to palm Benteke's low shot away, before sprawling onto Allen's effort and having Benteke strike straight at him as the shotstopper scrambled to his feet. 

They continued to fashion a number of half-chances, with Teixeira guilty of picking the wrong pass on the counter-attack as Sheyi Ojo sprinted into space down the right flank, but struggled to take advantage.

With Ojo on, Klopp also turned to Jerome Sinclair and Jose Enrique off of the bench late on - but none of the trio could make the desired impact as the Reds were held out to a goalless draw - the seventh time in their last 15 games in all competitions that they have failed to score.

Despite a promising performance on many accounts, the result - and the extra fixture in what is already a busy few weeks - will frustrate Klopp and co. as they face a tricky task to reach the next round.

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.