Arne Slot compared Plymouth Argyle’s tactics to those utilized by Manchester United after the Championship’s bottom club eliminated Liverpool from the FA Cup.
Liverpool suffered a fourth round exit after a 1-0 defeat at Home Park on Sunday afternoon, ending their hopes of a quadruple for an additional season.
Slot opted to rest lots of his first-team regulars with Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah amongst those ignored of the squad.
Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota were amongst those tasked with getting the job done against the Pilgrims but did not deliver up against a resolute Plymouth defence.
Slot was stuffed with praise for the opposition and believed even his star men would have struggled with the long balls that troubled his side down on the coast.
The Liverpool boss made similar comments following his side’s 2-2 draw with arch-rivals United at Anfield in early January, admitting his side need to search out an answer when playing against that setup.
‘You never know what would occur if we played with our starters,’ Slot said in his post-match press conference.
‘We have now seen just a few times this season that it’s a game plan that’s difficult for our starers but additionally for those that played today.
‘Constant long ball, second ball, long ball, second ball. It’s difficult for each team.
‘We had this at home to United as well for instance that they had the same playing style going to a really low block and kicking every ball long. After which [that day] we played with our starters.
‘So I believe today we show why we played with those ones who played today because these players need game rhythm as well to be ready within the upcoming months.
‘You saw today a few of these players actually need games like this to be ready for the last three months of the season.’
Liverpool are still fighting on three fronts, six points clear on the summit of the Premier League. They will extend that gap to nine points after they tackle Everton within the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.
They are going to tackle Newcastle United within the Carabao Cup final next month and have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League.
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