Liverpool suffered a 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Ryan Hardie scored a crucial penalty in the 53rd minute.
The Championship side, currently at the bottom of the table, earned a famous win.
Arne Slot expressed his deep disappointment after the match. He admitted that his Liverpool players fell far short of expectations. Moreover, the loss hurts him, the players, and all Liverpool supporters.
In preparation for the Merseyside derby against Everton on Wednesday, Slot made 10 changes to his side. He had recently beaten Tottenham 4-0 in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg. However, his heavily rotated team delivered an abject display against Plymouth Argyle.
After the match, Slot told ITV Sport, “It’s a great day for Plymouth.” He explained that Plymouth had a good gameplan and deserved all the credit. Furthermore, Slot added, “We were not having a very good day, and this result reflects that struggle.”
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Slot noted that both teams failed to create many chances. He stated that the match was decided by a correctly awarded penalty. Additionally, he emphasized that the penalty moment proved crucial in a tight game.
Slot felt that his squad did not perform up to his expectations. He argued that his players can do better on days like this. In addition, Slot explained that the playing style made it hard to create clear chances.
Slot admitted, “It hurts everyone involved with Liverpool – fans, players, and me.” He acknowledged that Liverpool all wanted to progress in this competition. Moreover, he noted that the team only created chances in the final 10-15 minutes. This limited window did not overcome their lack of clear openings.
In a separate interview with BBC Sport, Slot noted the absence of many young players in the team. He agreed that the bench players help when they come on. Nonetheless, he insisted that the starters should win a game like this. He also acknowledged the difficulty of Plymouth Argyle’s playing style.
