Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he has no regrets about his squad selection after the Reds were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Plymouth Argyle, Afrosport reports.
Slot made a raft of changes to his squad for the game at Home Park on Sunday, resting the bulk of his regular starters while fielding a host of academy players.
The decision proved to be decisive as Championship strugglers Plymouth won 1-0 courtesy of Ryan Hardie’s 53rd minute penalty.
Slot however stated that it was not because his key players were rested but it was rather because of the defensive style of play of Plymouth, something his team struggled with against the likes of Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
On if he regretted his selection, he said: “No, because you never know what will happen if we would have played with our starters over here.
“I think we’ve seen during this season, we’ve seen a few times already, that it’s a game plan, a playing style, which is difficult for our starters, but also for the ones that played today. So, constantly long balls, second balls, long balls, second balls.
“It’s difficult for every team. We had it with [Manchester] United at home for example as well. They had a similar playing style going to a very low block [then] kick every ball long, and then we played with our starters.
“I think today also showed why we played with the ones we played with today because these players need game rhythm as well.
“For them to be ready in the upcoming months, they need game time, and you saw today that some of these players really need games like this to be ready for the last three months of the season.”
0.44 – Liverpool accumulated an open play xG of just 0.44 today against Plymouth Argyle, their lowest in a game under Arne Slot so far. Lacking. pic.twitter.com/tiuXA74KH6
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 9, 2025
Liverpool will now turn their attention to the last Merseyside derby with Everton to be played at Goodison Park in a rescheduled Premier League game on Wednesday.
