Liverpool crash out of FA Cup at Plymouth as Arne Slot gamble backfires - 5 talking points

4 months ago 318

Plymouth Argyle wrote one of the finest tales in their history book, and one of the darkest in Liverpool's, as the side bottom of the Championship beat the Premier League leaders in a famous FA Cup fourth round tie.

Ryan Hardie's penalty eight minutes into the second half - following a handball from Harvey Elliott - won the day for the Green Army, who delivered a superb rearguard display to keep out Arne Slot's much-changed side.

Liverpool struggled to create chances in a below-par display with young midfielder James McConnell wasting a good late opportunity, before Downpatrick man and former Cliftonville keeper Conor Hazard made a superb late save from Diogo Jota. Here are the main talking points.

Plymouth celebrate Ryan Hardie's winner

Plymouth celebrate Ryan Hardie's winner

1. The end of the quadruple quest

The word around Liverpool following the Carabao Cup semi-final win over Tottenham was that the word 'Quadruple' would be banned at the club's Kirkby base such is the difficulty - indeed, the impossibility - of pulling off such a feat. Well Plymouth have solved that for them.

Liverpool face a huge couple of weeks in their quest to win the Premier League, but they won't be adding the FA Cup to it after this deserved defeat. Four possibilities have become three for the Reds, and they only have themselves to blame.

Arne Slot opted to leave many of Liverpool's star players at home

Arne Slot opted to leave many of Liverpool's star players at home

2. Arne Slot spares his key men the journey, and it backfires

For Liverpool much of the build-up to this game was dominated by interest in just which players would be present - or more accurately the ones who wouldn't be.

Ten changes were made from the side which beat Tottenham 4-0 in the Carabao Cup semi-final, but more importantly eight of those players who dropped out didn't even make the bench, with Slot opting to completely omit several stars who will start Wednesday's final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

It was a similar strategy to the one we saw him adopt in the Champions League tie at PSV Eindhoven, but with defeat there not coming with any consequence, this time it was certainly more of a risk, and so it proved.

Nikola Katic lost a tooth in the first half as he battled for the cause

Nikola Katic lost a tooth in the first half as he battled for the cause

3. Plymouth's new centre-backs are instant cult heroes

Having lost their way dramatically under Wayne Rooney, the arrival of new boss Miron Muslic at Argyle has clearly brought a new wave of optimism in Devon, and there are a couple of new characters in defence who will be perfect for that journey.

Maksym Talovyerov, with his blond hair held up in a ponytail, looks to be every inch a club cult hero already, with this only his second game since his move from LASK Linz last month. One challenge on Luis Diaz led to a roar of defiance from the Ukrainian, and Green Army in the crowd joined in.

Then there is the Bosnian Nikola Katic, the former Rangers defender on loan from FC Zurich, who managed to lose a tooth early on as he gave everything for the cause. It was a day for new heroes to announce themselves.

Joe Gomez was forced off early in the game

Joe Gomez was forced off early in the game

4. Joe Gomez's luckless run continues

Ultimately Liverpool's difficult day was to be summed up by their captain, with Joe Gomez looking groggy almost from the moment he stepped onto the field. The long-serving centre-back has only just returned from a hamstring injury and would have been desperate to be at Home Park, but he very quickly looked as though he'd rather be anywhere else.

It wasn't clear if it was illness or injury which forced him off to begin with, and having initially been replaced by youngster Isaac Mabaya for his debut, Slot would later brutally take off the youngster with his side chasing a goal.

Ryan Hardie expertly converted from the spot

Ryan Hardie expertly converted from the spot

5. Ryan Hardie is on the spot, and he wasn't the only one

Whatever the reasons behind Liverpool's team selection this was Argyle's day, with a page in their history books now reserved for Hardie after his 53rd minute penalty. The Scot wasn't alone in impressing though, and there were excellent displays to marvel at all over the pitch.

Plymouth have to take this type of performance into the Championship now, as on this evidence they have more than a fighting chance of avoiding a relegation that had appeared inevitable. Muslic has stirred something, and what a way to announce yourself this was.

Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.

Source: www.belfastlive.co.uk
Read Entire Article Source

To remove this article - Removal Request