Arne Slot compared Plymouth Argyle's tactics from the use of long balls to the Display of Manchester United in Anfield after Liverpool had a shock 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup fourth round.
The second half of Ryan Hardie was enough to send Bottom-of-the-Championship Plymouth to the fifth round at the expense of the Premier League leaders.
Slot had made 10 changes by his side of their last outing, with people like Mohammed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and others who are not included in the team.
This was only the second time in the last 11 years that Liverpool was eliminated from the FA Cup through one side from outside the Premier League (also 2016-17 V Wolves).
The Reds generally had 14 chances, with four of those shots on goal, both higher totals than their opponents. However, they struggled to make a lot of remarkable, apart from two late chances that Conor Hazard has saved excellent.
Slot admitted that Liverpool struggled against similar tactics such as Plymouth in previous competitions, and noted that the similarities with how Ruben Amorim United set up in their 2-2 draw in January.
“I think we have seen during this season, we have seen a few times that it is a game plan, a playing style that is difficult for our starters, but also for those who played [on Saturday]”Said Slot.
“So, constantly long ball, second ball, long balls, second balls. It's hard for every team.
“For example, we had it with United, for example. They had a similar playing style that went to a very low block [then] Kick every ball for a long time and then we played with our starters. “
0.44 – Liverpool today collected an open game XG of only 0.44 against Plymouth Argyle, their lowest in a game under Arne Slot so far. Are missing. pic.twitter.com/tiuxa74KH6
– Optajoe (@Optajoe) February 9, 2025
Liverpool suffered only a fourth defeat since he replaced Jurgen Klopp at the end of last season. In fact, they gathered an Open Play XG (expected goals) of only 0.44 against Plymouth Argyle today, their lowest in a game to date.
“The result is clear, it is a big disappointment and the way we played [there] Was also not much to be happy with, “Slot added.
“You never know what will happen if we had played here with our starters.
“I think [it] Also showed why we played with the person we played with, because these players also need game rhythm.
“For them to be ready in the coming months, they need playing time, and you saw today that some of these players really need such games to be ready for the last three months of the season.”
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