Arne Slot has insisted he has no regrets over his team selection despite Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup.
Liverpool’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple came to an end after a shock defeat to the second-tier strugglers. Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty gave Plymouth a 1-0 win over the Premier League leaders at Home Park.
We exit the Emirates FA Cup. pic.twitter.com/aPzWDWPusT
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 9, 2025
Slot chose to rotate his options for the cup clash with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo not included in the match day squad. A second-string side struggled to create clear-cut chances as Plymouth frustrated their top-flight visitors.
Plymouth’s winner came when Harvey Elliott was penalised for a handball and Hardie stepped up to send Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way from 12 yards.
Liverpool took until the final moments to create opportunities, with Plymouth ‘keeper Conor Hazard saving brilliantly from Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez late on. Kelleher made his way up for a last-gasp set-piece and got his head to the ball but Hazard was equal to a tame effort.
Liverpool lacked imagination in the absence of several big hitters but Slot said he has no regrets despite their cup campaign coming to a shock end.
“The result is obvious, a big disappointment. Way we played, not a lot to be happy about,” he said at full-time.
“The boys kept fighting for 100 minutes. They kept fighting but credit to Plymouth, a good gameplan, worked hard and it was a clear penalty, correct decision.
On his team selection, he added: “No [regrets] because we’ve seen a few times already, it’s a playing style that is difficult. I think today showed why we played with who we used, they need momentum to be ready for the upcoming months. We saw it today.”
