Done for a reason – Arne Slot defends Liverpool line-up in Plymouth FA Cup upset Arne Slot declared his weakened FA Cup line-up at Plymouth was done “for a reason” as Liverpool faced up to a shock exit to Sky Bet Championship strugglers and criticism his team selection had devalued the competition.
Slot was accused on social media of disrespecting the FA Cup by leaving so many of his stars on Merseyside, although Liverpool still started with a front line of Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa and Luis Diaz, while Darwin Nunez came off the bench after Plymouth scored.
In what was Liverpool’s 13th game since Boxing Day and ahead of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at Everton, Slot made 10 changes from the side which had dismantled Tottenham three days earlier to reach the Carabao Cup final.
The Dutch manager also suggested later that Plymouth’s direct playing style meant there was no guarantee Liverpool would have progressed to the last 16, even if his first-teamers had featured in Devon.
Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty secured a famous 1-0 win for Plymouth, rock bottom in the Championship, against the Premier League leaders in Sunday’s fourth-round tie at Home Park.
