With a dismal performance from Liverpool seeing them knocked out of their first competition this season, we take a look at what it means for Arne Slot’s Reds.
It was no surprise that Arne Slot rolled out a lineup that was a mixture of first team fringe players and youth against the side currently at the bottom of the Championship. Liverpool never got out of first gear, however, with several more established players struggling to complete simple passes and keep hold of the ball. A blatant hand ball gave Plymouth the only chance they needed on they day, burying the spot kick while they held on to knock Liverpool out of the FA Cup.
Below, we take a look at some winners and losers on the night, and attempt to disentangle narrative from fact.
Winners
People Wearing Mouth Guards
No players wearing a mouth guard (Endo) lost a tooth this match. Just sayin’.
People Who Like The Magic of the Cup
Last place team in the Championship beating the top team in the Premier League for all the narrative lovers out there.
Losers
Joe Gomez
In his first appearance back from a layoff from a hamstring injury, Gomez was given the arm band and a start in central defense. In a twisted turn of events, he went down in just the 9th minute of the match and had to be withdrawn. Heartbroken for the lad.
Nikola Katić
The Bosnian defender clashed heads with a teammate and knocked out a tooth. I guess he missed the memo from Endo about wearing a mouth guard.
Harvey Elliott
If you jump with both arms fully stretched above your head in the box and the ball hits it, that’s a penalty. A really poor moment from the young midfielder to gift Plymouth the goal on top of not having much influence on the match in a positive manner.
Isaac Mabaya
It was a rough debut for the young right back. He was thrust on after the early injury to Joe Gomez and struggled to keep hold of the ball, and was also shown a yellow for kicking the ball away on a throw in. He was subbed off in the 57th minute.
Dissecting The Narrative
Liverpool have steamrolled their way through the season thus far, making the finals of the FA Cup while topping the group stages of the Champions League and holding a significant lead at the top of the Premier League entering February. Arne Slot made the decision to roll out with a grab-bag lineup away to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, leaving most of his starters back in Liverpool to rest in anticipation of having five more matches ahead in February. The decision cost Liverpool their first competition of the season. Slot probably won’t be too upset to drop out of the competition, but he will certainly be frustrated with the performance of players like Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas who are on the fringes of the starting lineup but were dire on the day.
What Happens Next
Liverpool play their first Mersyside derby under Arne Slot on Wednesday in the makeup for the previously postponed fixture. It will be a significant match in more ways than one as it will be the last time the two sides meet at Goodison Park. The Blues will be a much tougher out than when they were previously scheduled to meet, winning their last three Premier League matches under David Moyes.