Liverpool Suffers FA Cup Blow Against Plymouth
Liverpool experienced a shocking exit from the FA Cup after a 1-0 defeat to Championship side Plymouth Argyle on Sunday. The Reds, who made significant changes to their squad, struggled to create chances against a resolute Plymouth side that executed their tactical game plan effectively.
Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty proved decisive, sending Plymouth through to the FA Cup fifth round while leaving Liverpool manager Arne Slot frustrated. Despite fielding a heavily rotated side, Slot defended his selection choices and drew comparisons between Plymouth’s approach and that of Manchester United.
Slot Compares Plymouth’s Tactics to Manchester United’s
Speaking after the game, Slot highlighted the similarities between Plymouth’s playing style and that of Manchester United, a team Liverpool previously struggled to break down.
“You never know what would happen if we played with our starters,” Slot admitted. “We have seen a few times this season that this kind of game plan is difficult for our starters, just as it was today for the ones who played.”
Slot detailed how Plymouth adopted a defensive low-block strategy, relying on long balls and second-ball recoveries, a tactic reminiscent of Manchester United’s approach when they faced Liverpool at Anfield earlier in the season.
“Constant long ball, second ball, long ball, second ball. It’s difficult for every team,” Slot continued. “We had this at home against United as well. They had a similar playing style—sitting deep and kicking every ball long. And that day, we played with our starters.”
Liverpool’s match against Manchester United in early January had ended in a frustrating 2-2 draw. United managed to hold Liverpool goalless for a significant period before taking a surprise lead through Lisandro Martinez. Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah responded with goals for Liverpool, but the game still highlighted the Reds’ struggles against teams deploying ultra-defensive setups.
Controversial Selection Decisions Defended
Slot made ten changes to the side that dismantled Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the Carabao Cup just days earlier, a decision that raised eyebrows among fans and pundits.
The Dutchman, however, was quick to defend his approach, emphasizing the need to give playing time to squad members who require match rhythm.
“I think today we show why we played with those who played,” he explained. “These players need game rhythm as well to be ready in the upcoming months. You saw today that some of these players really need games like this to be fully prepared for the last three months of the season.”
Despite featuring experienced internationals like Luis Diaz, Federico Chiesa, and Diogo Jota, Liverpool struggled to break down Plymouth’s resilient defense. The Reds only forced goalkeeper Conor Hazard into action in the dying minutes of stoppage time, a testament to Plymouth’s defensive discipline.
What’s Next for Liverpool and Plymouth?
Liverpool will now shift their focus to their remaining competitions, where they are still in contention for silverware in the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup. Meanwhile, Plymouth’s historic victory sees them progress to the FA Cup fifth round, where they could potentially face Manchester United.
United, who controversially edged past Leicester City on Friday, could find themselves up against Plymouth, setting up another intriguing clash between the Championship side and a Premier League giant.
With the FA Cup progressing towards its latter stages, all eyes will be on the upcoming draw, where teams will learn their next opponents. For Liverpool, their unexpected exit serves as a stark reminder that no fixture in the FA Cup can be taken lightly, while Plymouth’s fairytale journey continues.
