Liverpool’s shocking FA Cup exit against Plymouth Argyle has left Arne Slot with plenty to think about. The Reds, despite heavy squad rotation, were expected to progress.
Instead, they were outplayed and eliminated by a Championship side that has struggled for form.
The defeat is Slot’s fourth at Liverpool, but it might be his worst. While other losses came against strong opponents, this one exposed key weaknesses.
Despite making 10 changes, the team should have had enough quality to secure victory. Yet, they failed to create real scoring chances and were second-best all over the pitch.
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What stats reveal about Liverpool
One of the most concerning stats from the game was the lack of attacking threat.
Liverpool’s front three of Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz should have been too much for Plymouth’s defense. Instead, they struggled to create anything of note.
According to FotMob, the trio produced just 0.34 expected goals (xG) combined. Jota, in particular, had a tough time, completing only seven of his 18 passes.
Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie, by comparison, completed seven out of nine. Liverpool’s overall xG was just 1.0, their second lowest of the season, with a poor 0.44 coming from open play.
Part of the attacking struggles came from Liverpool’s weakened midfield. Wataru Endo was forced into defense due to Joe Gomez’s injury, leaving a trio of James McConnell, Trey Nyoni, and Harvey Elliott.
At 17 years old, Nyoni is still developing, and expectations should be managed. However, Elliott, despite his talent, failed to step up.
He created just one chance and had an off-target shot. Liverpool resorted to crossing the ball into the box, playing right into the hands of Plymouth’s defense.
Nikola Katic cleared 11 crosses, a number last seen against Liverpool in 2020 when Stefan Savic did the same for Atletico Madrid. The team’s lack of adaptability hurt them.
The poor pitch, early injury, and squad changes were factors, but good teams find a way. Liverpool didn’t, and Slot must learn from this defeat.