Liverpool’s pursuit of a historic quadruple ended with a disappointing defeat to Championship side Plymouth Argyle. Missing 10 senior players, a heavily rotated Reds squad fell short after Ryan Hardie converted a second-half penalty following a Harvey Elliott handball.
With this result, Liverpool must now shift their focus to maintaining their six-point lead in the Premier League while preparing for the League Cup final and the Champions League round of 16.
Player Ratings
Caoimhin Kelleher – 7
Handled crosses and a corner well before halftime. Made a key deflection on Hardie’s header onto the post but had no chance with the penalty.
James McConnell – 7
Started at right-back but moved into midfield, showing aggression and forcing a save from Hazard. Returned to right-back in the second half and missed a late chance.
Jarell Quansah – 6
Won several aerial duels but sometimes held onto the ball too long when pushing forward. His long-range passing was inconsistent.
Joe Gomez – N/A
Substituted after just 10 minutes due to injury.
Kostas Tsimikas – 6
Recovered from an early mistake to defend well against Bundu but struggled to contribute in attack.
Wataru Endo – 7
Took over as captain and filled in at center-back after Gomez’s early exit. Delivered a composed performance in an unfamiliar role.
Trey Nyoni – 5
Had an early shot blocked but faded after receiving a harsh booking. Saw more of the ball in the second half before being subbed off.
Federico Chiesa – 4
Largely uninvolved early on but grew into the game defensively. However, his second-half display was underwhelming.
Harvey Elliott – 4
Struggled to influence the game in the number 10 role, often crowded out by Plymouth’s defense. Conceded the decisive penalty and lacked precision in passing.
Luis Díaz – 4
Struggled with minimal protection from the referee and became frustrated. His influence faded significantly in the second half.
Diogo Jota – 5
Aside from one promising run, he was ineffective in the first half. Put in more effort after the break but had little impact. Saw a long-range shot in injury time saved.
Substitutes
Isaac Mabaya (on for Gomez, 11′) – 6
Made his senior debut unexpectedly but handled the occasion well. Booked before being substituted.
Trent Kone-Doherty (on for Nyoni, 76′) – 6
Played out of position in midfield during his first senior appearance. Had little influence but showed energy.
