Downey Reflects on Liverpool’s FA Cup exit: “It’s impossible to be disappointed” | OneFootball

Liverpool’s FA Cup Exit: A Tactical Misstep or a Blessing in Disguise?

Liverpool’s surprising FA Cup exit at the hands of Plymouth Argyle has left fans and pundits alike questioning the team’s approach and performance. On the latest episode of Post Match Raw for Anfield Index, Trev Downey and Guy Drinkel dissected the defeat, offering unflinching assessments of the players, tactics, and what this means for Liverpool moving forward under Arne Slot.

Lacklustre Performance Against a Resilient Plymouth

Despite fielding a starting lineup that included Diogo Jota, Luis Díaz, and Wataru Endō, Liverpool were unable to break down a resolute Plymouth side. Downey was quick to give credit to the opposition: “Let’s give Plymouth their flowers quite quickly—they fully deserve that victory. They defended magnificently.”

Liverpool’s inability to test Plymouth’s goalkeeper until late in the match highlighted a troubling lack of urgency. As Drinkel noted, “We weren’t testing that keeper until it was desperation minute.” The team’s offensive struggles were evident, with Downey lamenting, “It felt to me a little bit like that’s where Arne kind of left the team hanging out to dry.”

Managerial Decisions Under Scrutiny

The defeat has sparked debate about Arne Slot’s tactical choices. Both Downey and Drinkel questioned the selection and substitution strategies. “If he wanted to win that game, Curtis Jones would have come on at half-time with Darwin Núñez. You simply would have,” Drinkel asserted.

Downey went further, suggesting that Slot’s priorities might not have included the FA Cup: “It might be not a bad thing for us to not have to deal with two or three more fixtures this could lead to.” This sentiment reflects a growing belief among fans that the focus should shift to the Premier League and Champions League.

Missed Opportunities and Player Performances

Several Liverpool players had an opportunity to impress but failed to seize the moment. Downey was particularly critical: “Lads who had an opportunity to put their hand up did not do it.” Harvey Elliott, often seen as a future star, faced pointed criticism. Downey remarked, “I really rate Harvey Elliott, and I want him to be an issue for our manager when it comes to team selection. But he’s just off.”

The senior players didn’t escape scrutiny either. Drinkel was candid about Luis Díaz’s lack of impact: “Díaz literally didn’t do anything.” Even the introduction of Darwin Núñez failed to inject the necessary spark, with Downey expressing his frustration: “I wanted him to go on and say, ‘It’s Plymouth, lads, I’ll have these on my own.’ But no, not at all.”

Photo: IMAGO

Silver Lining in Defeat?

While the loss stings, there may be a hidden advantage. Liverpool will now have a less congested fixture schedule, potentially allowing them to focus on more prestigious competitions. Drinkel highlighted this, citing a tweet from journalist Jack T: “Liverpool will now have no game the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of March, which falls after a run of five Premier League games in 15 days and a few days before their Champions League Round of 16 first leg.”

Downey echoed this pragmatic view: “For that gap to open up now is exactly what I was talking about earlier in terms of the benefits from not having to be involved in the FA Cup.”

Looking Ahead

As Liverpool shifts focus to the league and European competition, the FA Cup defeat may be a blessing in disguise. However, questions about squad depth, tactical decisions, and player performances will linger. For Arne Slot, the task now is to regroup, refocus, and ensure that Liverpool’s season doesn’t unravel further.

As Downey succinctly put it, “It just felt as if nobody was engaged with that today. And therefore, it’s impossible to be disappointed when I wasn’t really going to be disappointed if we went out anyway.”