Liverpool’s dream of an unprecedented quadruple took a major hit as they crashed out of the FA Cup with a shocking 1-0 loss to Plymouth Argyle.
The Premier League leaders, fielding a weakened squad, struggled to break down the Championship strugglers, failing to register a shot on target until the 70th minute.
Manager Arne Slot opted to rest key players, with Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and Mohamed Salah sitting out. Trent Alexander-Arnold was unavailable due to injury, while Joe Gomez was forced off early in the match.
Despite a frontline featuring Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz—later bolstered by Darwin Nunez off the bench—Liverpool’s attack faltered.
Chiesa, making just his fourth start since arriving from Juventus, endured a frustrating afternoon. His performance drew criticism from ITV pundit Karen Carney, who described him as “way off the boil” and “not good enough” for a team of Liverpool’s caliber.
Slot defended his decision to rotate the squad, citing the demanding fixture schedule. He emphasized the need to manage player workload while also giving fringe players vital minutes.
However, he admitted the loss exposed some players’ lack of match sharpness, highlighting the challenge of keeping the entire squad ready for the season’s final stretch.