Arne Slot fielded a significantly weakened Liverpool squad in their FA Cup clash against Plymouth, yet one of the two senior players on the bench, Curtis Jones, remained unused throughout the match.
After Liverpool’s shock defeat, Slot explained why the midfielder didn’t feature (via liverpoolfc.com):
> “Curtis Jones was on the bench, but he approached me this morning and said, ‘I don’t think I’m fully recovered yet’ after yesterday’s training session.
> “That meant we had to rely on more youngsters than originally planned, but there was still enough quality on the pitch to get a better result.”
The Dutchman was clearly frustrated with his team’s performance, as Liverpool crashed out of the competition against the Championship’s bottom side.
Slot Unimpressed with Liverpool’s Display at Plymouth
Robbie Fowler described the performance as “un-Liverpool-like,” with the team only starting to create real chances in the closing stages when they adopted a more direct approach.
Darwin Núñez, the only other senior option on the bench, was introduced late in the game and nearly salvaged a draw.
With a demanding schedule of five Premier League games in just 15 days, it appears Slot prioritized resting key players over FA Cup progression.
If Liverpool go on to lift the title in May, this defeat will likely be forgotten. But for now, fans will hope it doesn’t disrupt what has been an incredible season so far.
