Liverpool’s hopes of securing a quadruple came to an end with a disappointing loss to Championship side Plymouth Argyle.
Missing 10 senior players, a much-changed Reds side fell to defeat after Ryan Hardie converted a second-half penalty following a handball by Harvey Elliott.
With this result, Liverpool must now shift their focus to maintaining their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League, while also preparing for the League Cup final and a Champions League round of 16 tie.
Player Ratings
Caoimhin Kelleher – 7
Handled a couple of crosses and a corner well before halftime. Made a crucial touch to deflect Hardie’s header onto the post but had no chance with the penalty.
James McConnell – 7
Started at right-back but soon moved into midfield, where he was aggressive in tackles and forced a save from Hazard with a deflected shot. Returned to right-back in the second half but missed a late chance.
Jarell Quansah – 6
Won several aerial duels but occasionally held onto the ball too long when pushing forward. His long-range passing was inconsistent.
Joe Gomez – N/A
His game was cut short after just 10 minutes due to injury.
Kostas Tsimikas – 6
Recovered well from an early mistake to defend strongly against Bundu but struggled to make an impact going forward.
Wataru Endo – 7
Took over as captain and filled in at center-back after Gomez’s early exit. A solid, composed performance in an unfamiliar role.
Trey Nyoni – 5
Had an early shot blocked but faded after receiving a harsh booking. Saw more of the ball in the second half before being substituted.
Federico Chiesa – 4
Barely involved in the first 20 minutes but grew into the game and contributed defensively. However, his second-half performance was disappointing.
Harvey Elliott – 4
Tried to dictate play in the number 10 role but often found himself crowded out by Plymouth’s defense. Conceded the decisive penalty and lacked precision in his passing.
Luis Diaz – 4
Struggled with a lack of protection from the referee and became visibly frustrated. His influence faded significantly in the second half.
Diogo Jota – 5
Aside from one promising run, he was largely ineffective in the first half. Worked harder after the break but with little reward. Had a long-range shot in injury time saved.
Isaac Mabaya (on for Gomez, 11′) – 6
Unexpectedly handed his senior debut, the young right-back handled the occasion well and showed little sign of nerves. Booked before being substituted.
Ran around but had minimal influence on the game until firing a late angled shot wide. Also saw a late header pushed over the bar.
Trent Kone-Doherty (on for Nyoni, 76′) – 6
The young winger likely didn’t expect his first senior appearance to come in a midfield role.
