Arne Slot declared his weakened FA Cup line-up at Plymouth was done "for a reason" as Liverpool faced up to a shock exit to Sky Bet Championship strugglers and criticism his team selection had devalued the competition.
Ryan Hardie's second-half penalty secured a famous 1-0 win for Plymouth, rock bottom in the Championship, against the Premier League leaders in Sunday’s fourth-round tie at Home Park.
In what was Liverpool’s 13th game since St Stephen's Day and ahead of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby at Everton, Slot made 10 changes from the side which had dismantled Tottenham three days earlier to reach the Carabao Cup final with Derry teenager Trent Kone-Doherty also coming off the bench for his senior debut.
Only goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher remained with skipper Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch among Liverpool regulars to be given the day off.
Slot was accused on social media of disrespecting the FA Cup by leaving so many of his stars on Merseyside, although Liverpool still started with a front line of Diogo Jota, Federico Chiesa and Luis Diaz, while Darwin Nunez came off the bench after Plymouth scored.
The Dutch manager also suggested later that Plymouth’s direct playing style meant there was no guarantee Liverpool would have progressed to the last 16, even if his first-teamers had featured in Devon.
"You never know what will happen if we would have played with our starters," Slot said.
"During this season we’ve seen a few times already that it’s a game plan and playing style which is difficult for our starters, but also for the ones that played here.
"Constantly long balls and second balls, it’s difficult for every team and we had this with (Manchester) United at home as well. Similar playing style going to a very low block, kick every ball long, and then we play with our starters.
"Most of the things we do, we do for a reason. We don’t do all of a sudden something.
"We have many games to play and the last few weeks we’ve played every single week two times.
"It’s not only good for them to have a week where they play only one game, but also for the ones here that need intensity and a game as well.
"You saw that some of these players really need games like this to be ready for the last three months of the season."
Liverpool’s misery was compounded by an injury to Joe Gomez, who wore the armband following a six-week lay-off.
The England defender, who suffered a hamstring injury against West Ham on 29 December, was forced off inside 11 minutes at Home Park.
Slot said: "I am not too sure if it was the same leg (as West Ham)… but it was clear that we all know which moment he felt a bit insecure about because he didn’t sprint back fully.
"He said he was not 100% sure and he was afraid that if he made one extra sprint that things would go wrong.
"He didn’t tear it, it’s not torn I assume, but it didn’t feel good for him and that is a bit of a blow."
Meanwhile,Jarrad Branthwaite believes Everton have to eliminate the emotion from the final Goodison Park derby.
This will be the last Merseyside derby in the ground's 133-year history ahead of the club’s move to Bramley-Moore Dock and it takes on even more significance for Evertonians.
The last two seasons Everton fans have enjoyed themselves by taunting their neighbours with "You lost the league at Goodison Park", having seen a draw and then last year's 2-0 victory puncture holes in Liverpool’s title aspirations.
They will be looking for a third successive celebration off the back of three league wins in a row but defender Branthwaite, who scored the important first goal last April, admits the players cannot contemplate that.
"It is the Merseyside derby, it is another game that we are looking to win, that’s it," he said.
"If you build it up too much then you can fall under the pressure so I think for us as players we are going into it with the belief that we can get a result like last season.
"If you go into it bigging it up – all the pressure is on and everyone is watching – then you probably won’t play your best.
"It will be different for the fans as they create the atmosphere for us to go out there and do a job. We need to go out and perform."
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