Tactical Trials and Lessons: Why Liverpool Struggled Against Plymouth | OneFootball

Liverpool’s FA Cup journey came to an abrupt halt as they fell to a shocking defeat against Plymouth Argyle. Following their strong performance against Spurs in the Carabao Cup, which secured their place in the final against Newcastle at Wembley, Liverpool turned their focus to domestic cup competition once more.

However, they struggled against a resolute Plymouth side that, despite being rock bottom in their league and having recently appointed a new coach after sacking Wayne Rooney, managed to pull off an upset.

How Liverpool Lost to Plymouth in the FA Cup

As expected, Liverpool fielded a heavily rotated squad. Caoimhin Kelleher started in goal, with a defensive line consisting of Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah as the centre-back pairing, while James McConnel and Kostas Tsimikas took up the full-back roles. The midfield trio featured Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, and Trey Nyoni, while the attack was led by Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz. Despite the changes, Liverpool were expected to dominate the game, but their performance lacked fluidity and cutting edge.

Liverpool IP:

Buildup 1

In possession, Liverpool’s approach was structured but ineffective. From right-back, McConnell often inverted into midfield alongside Endo, aiming to facilitate buildup and create numerical advantages. Plymouth, however, pressed in a narrow 5-2-3 shape, limiting central progression and forcing Liverpool to operate in wider areas.

To counter this, Elliott and Nyoni attempted to drop deeper to receive passes and link play, but Plymouth’s wingbacks and outside centre-backs tightly marked them. This defensive discipline forced Liverpool into predictable back passes, stifling their attacking momentum.

The lack of incisive movement from Liverpool’s forwards further exacerbated their struggles. Chiesa and Diaz were isolated against Plymouth’s defenders, with neither making decisive runs in behind nor effectively taking on their markers. The failure to stretch the opposition defense resulted in a toothless attack. Liverpool attempted 20 dribbles in the match, with Chiesa alone attempting 10 but completing just one. His one successful dribble did lead to a Diaz shot that was blocked, highlighting the importance of direct wingers in breaking down defensive structures.

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Injury

Joe Gomez’s return from a hamstring injury was short-lived as he was forced off early in the match. During a transition within the first ten minutes, Gomez seemed to check his run and didn’t track the player, which seemed concerning. In the 11th minute, after miscommunication with Kelleher and poor clearance, Gomez appeared to be in discomfort and was substituted for Mabaya. This forced Liverpool into a structural reshuffle, with Endo dropping into center-back and McConnell pushing further forward into midfield. Despite these adjustments, Liverpool’s attacking struggles continued as they found it difficult to create clear-cut chances.

Buildup 2

As the game progressed, Liverpool attempted to tweak their buildup play. Mabaya was pushed higher as a more traditional right-back, allowing Chiesa to tuck inside and receive the ball in more dangerous areas. On the left, Diaz benefitted from Tsimikas’ overlapping and underlapping runs, providing some variety in Liverpool’s attack. However, Plymouth’s compact defensive shape remained highly effective, preventing Liverpool from generating quality scoring opportunities. There were moments when Liverpool managed to stretch Plymouth’s press by keeping their centre-backs wide and their forwards high, creating space for McConnell to drive forward from midfield. Yet, these movements failed to result in tangible goal-scoring chances.

After the Goal

Plymouth’s breakthrough came through a penalty after Elliott conceded a clumsy foul in the box, raising his hands unnaturally and giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Ryan Hardie stepped up and calmly sent Kelleher the wrong way, putting Plymouth ahead. In response, Liverpool made an attacking substitution, with Darwin Nunez replacing Mabaya.

The change injected urgency into Liverpool’s play, as they finally looked like a team desperate for an equaliser. For a brief period, they sustained pressure, with Nunez getting into promising positions. However, his decision-making let him down at key moments, particularly when he opted to shoot from a tight angle instead of squaring it to Diaz, who was unmarked in front of goal. Jota also had a late chance, but Plymouth’s goalkeeper Hazard made a crucial save to preserve his team’s lead.

Liverpool OOP:

Out of possession, Liverpool were vulnerable in defensive transitions. The midfield lacked physicality due to an overload, which made it easy for Plymouth to win second balls and exploit the spaces left behind. The absence of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate was evident, as Liverpool’s defensive line struggled to cover large spaces and limit Plymouth’s attacking threat. Liverpool lost possession thirteen times and faced 21 turnovers, a reflection of how Plymouth capitalised on midfield overloads to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm.

Poor Performance But Is There a Positive?

This result raises questions about the long-term suitability of certain players in Liverpool’s squad. Luis Diaz, for instance, does not appear to be an ideal long-term option for the left-wing role. His game is not suited to playing as a traditional winger who thrives with the ball at his feet, and there are echoes of Sadio Mane’s transition to a false nine in his profile. Given Arne Slot’s lack of full confidence in Nunez, Diaz has been increasingly utilised in a central role in recent weeks, suggesting the coaching staff sees his future in a different position.

Ultimately, this was an extremely poor performance from Liverpool. While young players are expected to take their opportunities, the reality is that a heavily rotated side with little cohesion will naturally struggle to function as a unit. Slot has shown he is not afraid to make ruthless decisions based on performances, as seen with Quansah being subbed off at halftime in the Ipswich game, his scepticism regarding Nunez’s consistency, and his concerns over the effectiveness of both Elliott and Chiesa.

While the defeat is disappointing, it does provide Liverpool with an unexpected rest weekend on March 1st and 2nd, which comes after a gruelling stretch of five Premier League games in 15 days and just before the Champions League Round of 16 first leg. In this sense, the loss may have an unintended benefit, allowing the team to regroup and refocus on their bigger objectives for the season. Another shining light was James McConnell, who displayed a sense of pausa and control in midfield, dictating the tempo with a metronomic presence. His composure on the ball and ability to recycle possession efficiently suggest he has the potential to be a long-term squad option for Liverpool.