Liverpool ‘hurt’ by shock FA Cup exit to Plymouth, says Slot
PLYMOUTH, United Kingdom (AFP) — Liverpool boss Arne Slot said his side’s shock FA Cup exit to second-tier Plymouth was a setback after a near-flawless start to his time in charge.
The Reds had been on course for quadruple trophies before they travelled to Argyle, who sit bottom of the championship, but came unstuck at Home Park as Slot paid a heavy price for making wholesale changes.
The Dutchman retained only goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher from the side that thrashed Tottenham 4-0 on Thursday to reach the League Cup final, and left Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk out of his a squad entirely.
The Premier League leaders should still have had enough to progress as Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa started up front, while Darwin Nunez was introduced in a bid to rescue the game in the second half.
“We were not having a very good day. A result like this is the outcome,” said Slot.
“It hurts everyone that is involved with Liverpool — fans, me, players. We were all wanting to be in this competition for as long as possible and when you go out in the second possible game, that’s a setback.”
The game was decided by Ryan Hardie’s penalty eight minutes into the second half, after Harvey Elliott handled inside the box.
Diogo Jota and Nunez forced Conor Hazard into late saves but Plymouth held out for one of the great, all-time, FA Cup upsets.
“I can’t say the boys didn’t fight — both teams barely created a chance and then it was a penalty. In a game like this it is up to one moment. That moment was for them and they deserve it,” added Slot.
“I think they were able to do better but it’s a system and a way of playing which is hard to create against. I wasn’t surprised. When we had the ball they were really aggressive.
“Not easy to create, especially if a team has not played together all the time. It hurts everyone. We were all wanting to be in this competition for as long as possible.
“They kept on fighting until the last second. It wasn’t a work rate problem but they couldn’t find chances. We have to be more creative.”
