"We Wanted More Games"—Arne Slot Admits Frustration Over Liverpool’s FA Cup Exit and Last-Minute Squad Changes

Liverpool’s FA Cup journey came to a shocking end after a 1-0 loss to Championship side Plymouth Argyle. While some might see the early exit as a blessing in disguise—giving the Reds more rest for their Premier League and Champions League push—manager Arne Slot strongly disagrees. He insists there are no positives to take from the defeat, revealing he had actually planned to field an even stronger team for the game.

Speaking after the match, Slot admitted he would have preferred a packed fixture schedule rather than having free weekends in March. The FA Cup fifth round and quarter-finals will now take place without Liverpool, leaving the team with fewer games to rotate players and keep their squad sharp.

“There was a wise man who once told me that nothing good comes from losing a football game, and I completely agree,” Slot said. “We would have definitely preferred to play six games in 18 days or seven in 21, because that’s the schedule we are used to.”

Instead, Liverpool now faces a rare gap in their fixture list, something Slot feels isn’t beneficial, especially for players who need more game time to stay in top form.

Slot also revealed that Liverpool’s lineup against Plymouth was supposed to be even stronger, but unexpected circumstances forced him to adjust his plans.

Curtis Jones was supposed to start but reported feeling unwell the day before the game.

Joe Gomez was meant to play at least 60 minutes, but plans changed due to match conditions.

Darwin Núñez was late to rejoin the squad after becoming a father in Spain just days before the match.

Despite these setbacks, Slot still believes the team he selected should have been strong enough to win. However, he pointed out that the lack of game time for some players made it difficult for them to perform at their best.

“The fact that we lost to Plymouth and also didn’t win against PSV tells us that these players need these games to stay sharp,” he explained. “It’s so difficult to get the best out of them when they hardly play any matches.”

The fact that Liverpool’s early departure prevents Slot from giving his squad men more competitive minutes is one of his main annoyances. FA Cup matches would have offered worthwhile chances for players who don’t frequently start to establish themselves.

“Again, it’s disappointing that we don’t have these extra games in the next 18 days,” Slot said.

Liverpool now has to concentrate on their remaining games in the hopes that the additional break will at least help them in their Champions League campaign and the Premier League title fight. Slot was apparent that he would have like to continue competing in the FA Cup rather than miss the further rounds.