Tactics employed by Plymouth's team resemble Man Utd's long-ball strategy, making it challenging for every opponent according to Slot.
Liverpool's journey in the FA Cup came to an end at the hands of Plymouth Argyle, marking only the second time in the last 11 years that the Reds have been eliminated by a side outside the Premier League. This defeat, a fourth under new manager Arne Slot since he replaced Jurgen Klopp, was not a pleasant one for the Merseyside club.
In the match, Liverpool had a total of 14 chances, with 4 of those shots on target, both higher than their opponents. However, the open play xG (expected goals) for Liverpool against Plymouth Argyle was their lowest under Slot at 0.44. The Reds struggled to create much of note apart from two late chances, which Conor Hazard, the Plymouth goalkeeper, superbly saved.
Arne Slot, Liverpool's manager, compared Plymouth Argyle's tactics to Manchester United's display at Anfield due to similarities in defensive organization and counter-attacking approaches. He noted that both teams set up to absorb pressure efficiently and then exploit spaces on the break with quick transitions, rather than dominating possession or playing aggressively upfront.
Slot also admitted that Liverpool have struggled against such tactics in the past, pointing to the 2-2 draw with Manchester United in January as an example. He suggested that the performance might have been different if the starters had played against Plymouth Argyle.
The Plymouth manager, Slot, made 10 changes to his side for their last outing, with key players like Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai not included in the squad. Slot stated that the reserves needed games like the one against Plymouth Argyle to be ready for the last three months of the season.
Ryan Hardie scored a second-half penalty for Plymouth, sending them into the fifth round of the FA Cup against Premier League leaders Liverpool. Slot played the reserves against Plymouth Argyle to give them game rhythm for the upcoming months. Despite the result, Slot expressed his disappointment with Liverpool's performance against Plymouth Argyle, stating that it was not something to be happy about.
This comparison highlights the tactical discipline and pragmatic approach of both teams in their respective matches, focusing on structured defense and tactical counters. Slot's observation reflects an appreciation for how effective a well-drilled defensive system combined with swift counter-attacks can be, especially against technically superior opponents on bigger stages like Anfield.
In the aftermath of their FA Cup elimination by Plymouth Argyle, Liverpool's manager Arne Slot drew parallels between the tactics employed by Plymouth and that of Manchester United at Anfield, acknowledging both teams' efficiency in absorbing pressure and exploiting spaces for counter-attacks. Despite rotating his squad, Slot regretted Liverpool's underwhelming performance against Plymouth Argyle, a team competing in European-leagues lower than the Premier League.
