Liverpool’s Quadruple Hopes Crushed as Plymouth Stun Klopp’s Men
Liverpool’s pursuit of a historic quadruple came to a disappointing halt after a shock defeat to Championship side Plymouth Argyle.
Missing 10 senior players, a heavily rotated Reds squad fell behind when Ryan Hardie converted a second-half penalty, awarded after Harvey Elliott’s handball in the box. Despite late efforts to equalize, Liverpool couldn’t find a breakthrough.
With this setback, Liverpool must now shift their focus to defending their six-point lead in the Premier League, while also preparing for the League Cup final and the Champions League round of 16.
Player Ratings
Caoimhin Kelleher – 7
Dealt well with crosses and corners in the first half. Got a vital touch to deflect Hardie’s header onto the post, but had no chance of saving the penalty.
James McConnell – 7
Started at right-back before moving into midfield, where he was aggressive and forced a save from Hazard with a deflected shot. Later returned to right-back but missed a late opportunity.
Jarell Quansah – 6
Dominant in the air but held onto the ball too long at times when pushing forward. His passing from deep was inconsistent.
Joe Gomez – N/A
Substituted after just 10 minutes due to injury.
Kostas Tsimikas – 6
Recovered from an early mistake and defended well against Bundu, but offered little going forward.
Wataru Endo – 7
Took over as captain and filled in at center-back after Gomez’s injury. A composed and solid display in an unfamiliar role.
Trey Nyoni – 5
Had an early shot blocked but struggled after receiving a harsh yellow card. Saw more of the ball in the second half before being subbed off.
Federico Chiesa – 4
Barely involved in the first 20 minutes but contributed defensively. However, his second-half performance was poor, offering little threat.
Harvey Elliott – 4
Tried to dictate play in the No. 10 role but was crowded out by Plymouth’s defense. Conceded the decisive penalty and struggled with passing accuracy.
Luis Díaz – 4
Frustrated by a lack of referee protection, he faded badly in the second half, failing to impact the game.
Diogo Jota – 5
Had one promising run but was largely anonymous in the first half. Worked harder after the break but lacked end product. Had a late shot saved.
Isaac Mabaya (on for Gomez, 11’) – 6
Thrown into action for his senior debut and handled the occasion well. Booked before being substituted.
Trent Kone-Doherty (on for Nyoni, 76’) – 6
A surprising midfield role for the young winger on his first senior appearance. Showed energy but had little impact.
