Classy Liverpool hero Virgil van Dijk provides Shrewsbury Town goalscorer Daniel Udoh with ultimate memento

Town frontman Udoh allowed the large pack of travelling Salop fans to dream shortly before the FA Cup third round tie's half hour mark on Sunday as he buried the opening goal.

His lethal first-time finish edged Steve Cotterill's men in front against a strong home side named by Jurgen Klopp, who fought back seven minutes later and then edged ahead from the penalty spot just before the break.

The Premier League giants went on to reach round four with a 4-1 victory but Salop kept the deficit down to one goal until 12 minutes from time on a day they pushed the big-hitters all the way and gave the Reds a real first-half scare.

Cotterill revealed after the game that giant Dutch centre-half van Dijk, formerly the world's most expensive defender and Liverpool's captain on the day, entered the Town dressing room at full-time to speak with the Salop squad and offered his match-worn shirt, which was gleefully accepted by Shrews 10-goal hero Udoh.

Udoh explained that he asked the defender for his shirt on the pitch after the tie and was extremely surprised with the response from the Reds favourite.

"That was crazy, as I was coming off I asked if I could have your shirt and he said 'yeah yeah, I want yours as well'. I thought 'what's he going to do with my top?'" Udoh said.

"I said I'd meet him in the changing room, I said I'd go to him, but he came to us, which shows what a good guy and character he is.

"One hundred per cent it'll be going up on the wall."

Udoh, who is enjoying the season of his career to date, kept van Dijk, his partner Ibou Konate and Andy Robertson and Co. honest all afternoon with tireless chasing. Shrews boss Cotterill praised the classy touch from van Dijk in taking time to acknowledge League One visitors Shrewsbury.

Cotterill said: "van Dijk is a gentleman by the way, came in our dressing room after the game to give his shirt to one of our boys. An absolute top, top – not just player – a top bloke.

"I'm very proud of our lads, very thankful for Liverpool Football Club and how they've been, from Jurgen Klopp all the way through, Virgil van Dijk came into our dressing roomcongratulateded everyone, said well done, brought his shirt in and shook hands.

"I thought that was top form, not only is he a top player he's a gentleman. It's a very good experience for our players tencompassas that."

Udoh shared a picture of his memento from the occasion in a tweet later in the evening.

van Dijk, meanwhile, had even more praise for Shrewsbury as he shared his thoughts on what was at times a tricky afternoon for the Reds despite the strong side selected by Klopp.

The defender said on Twitter: "Into the next round we go, the young boys did well! Well played to Shrewsbury, good luck for the rest of the season."

Scotland international captain Andy Robertson, who played almost the entire game at left-back until a late knock, also reserved praise for Cotterill's men after full-time.

"All about making sure we were in the hat after a strange, disrupted week! Credit to Shrewsbury, pushed us all the way! Kudos to all our academy staff as well… our young lads did the club and themselves proud today!" Robertson posted online.

Reds boss Klopp returned to the dugout in time to face Town – after missing the tie in February 2020 – as he returned a negative lateral flow test on the morning of the fixture.

Klopp and fellow staff, as well as several first-team players, have missed recent games and training sessions having tested positive for Covid-19.

The Anfield boss said: "It was very difficult for a few reasons, this was the team we could line up today and the boys did really well.

"A difficult game which became even more difficult when we conceded the 1-0 but the boys reacted well, put in a really proper shift.

"We started training again on Friday. The young kids are all really good footballers but it makes it really tricky especially when you have to break down a low block so I'm just happy at the result and that we went through."