Arne Slot defended his team selection after his much changed Liverpool side from the FA Cup was crashed to Championship Bottom Club Plymouth.
The Premier League leaders had been large pre-match favorites to march in round five of the competition, talking about a possible four-fold even who started building after their qualification for the Carabao Cup final.
But Slot brought 10 changes from the side that Tottenham defeated in the semi -final of that competition on Thursday before the trip to Home Park, making important men Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk from his team. Liverpool goes to Everton on Wednesday, where they can take their advantage at the top of the Premier League to nine points above Arsenal.
There were senior figures in the side, including Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa and Luis Diaz, but Liverpool struggled to create opportunities, with only three shots on goal and an expected goals a total of 0.44 of Open Play, their lowest count since Slot took the lead.
Ryan Hardie scored a penalty for Plymouth and Liverpool could not find any way back in the draw.
“We have to play a lot of games,” said Slot. “We have played twice every week in recent weeks. We have to play twice in the coming weeks.
“It's not just good for them [his starters] To occasionally have a week in which they play only one game, but also for those here today, they need the intensity of a game. They had that against PSV [in the Champions League]. Unfortunately they lost it. And they had that today and unfortunately we also lost it.
“Today also showed why we play with the person we played today. These players also need game rhythm.
“You saw today that some of these players really need such games to be ready for the last three months of the season.”
Other changes were 17-year-old Trey Nyoni for Ryan Gravenberch, James McConnell instead of Dominik Szoboszlai and debutant Issac Mabaya for the wounded Joe Gomez.
Slot's team selection was 'irresponsible'
Sky Sports' Lewis Jones:
While the clock tapped with Liverpool who did not offer a spark and creative lead, it was certainly time to unleash people like Mohamed Salah from the bank.
But Salah wasn't there.
Nor was Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Ibrahima Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch. In-shape first team players who would have made Plymouth.
Instead, Arne Slot could only change debutants Isaac Mabaya and Trent Kone -Dooerty – and the whimsical Darwin Nunez.
Slot has little, if something is wrong, in his time in the HotSeat in Liverpool, but this was a clear underestimation of the challenge for the challenge. Of course, name a refreshed team, but not to have the big guns in reserve for emergency situations was just irresponsible in a competition that Liverpool has a serious tradition to take seriously.
Slot did not respect the competition, the Plymouth Talk team for them and the famous old competition gave him a hard lesson.
Morrison: Slot did not misunderstand versus plymouth
Clinton Morrison speaks on Sky Sports News:
'I don't think lock was wrong [with his team selection].
“Their bread and butter is the Premier League and they have a big game on Wednesday [against Everton]. He must let his players rest because they have played a lot of football.
“They still had enough quality on the field to beat Plymouth, which this season admitted the most goals in all competitions.
“It was an opportunity for players and it didn't work for them. It happens in football. That is the only spot before Slot.
“Because he came to Liverpool, we only praised him. You have to continue quickly.
“I don't think it will be harmful because it was not their starting XI. They will respond. It is just a blip in the way.”
Lock: Not easy if a team does not always play together
Liverpool -Baas Arne Slot who spoke with ITV:
“Great game from Plymouth. Good game plan and they deserve all the honor. We didn't have a very good day. A result like this is the outcome.
“I can't say that the boys did not fight, both teams hardly created a chance and then it was a penalty. In a game like this it is until a moment. That moment was for them and they earn it.
“I think they could do better, but it is a system and a way of playing that hard to create against. I was not surprised. When we had the ball, they were really aggressive.
“Not easy to make, especially if a team has not always played together. It hurts everyone. We all wanted to be in this competition for as long as possible.
“They kept fighting until the last second, it was no problem with the working speed, but they could not find any opportunities. We have to be more creative.”
Liverpool -debate should not distract from Plymouth Performance
Sky Sports' Patrick Rowe:
The debate on the Liverpool team selection is not allowed to distract us today from the performance of Plymouth.
With Diaz, Jota and Chiesa all, Liverpool had sufficient firepower at their disposal to cause problems today – but they were choked by the immense performance of the hosts.
Every cross was treated and every tackle was made. Maksym Talovierov was only at the Lask club in January, but quickly became a favorite with fans, with his parties after each block was welcomed by the homepark audience as a goal.
He made nine permission in the afternoon, with his counterpart Nikola Katic, it doubled that almost 17, despite losing a tooth in the first half!
It was enormous from start to finish and, as Slot remarked correctly, Plymouth deserves their place in the fifth round.
Chiesa does not take his chance
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
Federico Chiesa suffered with injuries during the first half of the season. Today was a big chance for him to show his quality and that he can be a big figure for Liverpool in the business end of the season.
But he was far below the required level in Home Park.
He tried 10 take-ons. And completed one.
In the last third part, hardly half of his passes was completed, while only one of his four crosses found their target.
He just couldn't find a way along the green shirts for him and when he immediately sent a late cross out for a goal, Arne Slot looked annoyed.
Of course, Chiesa probably still has a shortage of matchfitness. But his frustrating time in Liverpool from a personal perspective still seems to continue for a while, about this proof.
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