Liverpool 0 Plymouth Argyle 0
Man of the Match: Yann Songo'o (Plymouth Argyle)
What began as a historic occasion for Liverpool ended as one for Plymouth Argyle. The record books at Anfield require rewriting, accommodating the inclusion of Liverpool’s youngest ever team, but this is a result that will echo through the ages in Devon.
Plymouth’s first clean sheet at Anfield was a triumph of organisation and concentration. Theirs was an example of the unapologetic realism of the FA Cup. This game was worth around £500,000 (Dh2.26m) and Plymouth defended with relentless doggedness to secure not a win, but a profitable replay.
It felt less about glory than money but it was a job done with great professionalism. It was a shock secured by unremitting negativity. There is no shame in that. Jose Mourinho came to Liverpool and played for a 0-0 draw this season. So did Derek Adams. Each achieved his objective.
“It was one of the best defensive performances that Anfield has probably seen,” Plymouth manager Adams said.
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The team second in League Two held the side second in the Premier League, bridging a gap of three divisions and 68 league places, aided by Klopp’s decision to prioritise Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final with Southampton and Sunday’s trip to Manchester United.
“It is my responsibility, the whole thing: line-up, performance,” Klopp said. “We could have done better, 100 per cent.”
His, in effect, reserve team had an average age of 21 years and 296 days. “With Lucas in?” the German said, poking fun at the side’s senior citizen.
He provided an injection of experience, in the form of substitutes Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino. The striker twice shot wide and looped a header on to the roof of the net but Liverpool’s radar proved awry. Klopp complained about them picking the wrong pass or cross. They had too little incision or invention. They had 77 per cent of possession.
“They could have had 90 per cent,” said Adams, aware Liverpool only mustered four shots on target.
The first was perhaps the best chance, a header Sheyi Ojo directed straight at goalkeeper Luke McCormick. The second drew the best save. Ben Woodburn, the 17-year-old forward who is already Liverpool’s youngest scorer, skipped past a defender and poked a shot that struck McCormick in the chest. Yet excitement was rationed.
Klopp offered a frank appraisal of the game. “It was boring,” he said. Loris Karius had a solitary save to make, from Liverpool fan Graham Carey’s free kick, but Argyle’s best chance fell to Jake Jervis, who surged clear with five minutes remaining and angled a shot wide.
Yet there were few hints they would inflict Liverpool’s most embarrassing FA Cup defeat since non-league Worcester beat them in 1959. “We had the ball all the time,” Klopp said.
Plymouth saw so little of it in the first half that the central midfielder Oscar Threlkeld failed to complete a single pass. Two of his colleagues only found a teammate once each by the break. Another caught the eye for different reasons: Sonny Bradley flicked Emre Can’s ear and tickled him under the armpit, much to the German’s irritation.
Yet the visiting fans could savour their indomitable spirit. The 8,600 travelling Argyle supporters were vocal. For them, it became one of the more memorable trips from Plymouth since the Mayflower left in 1620. For Liverpool, who drew at Exeter last year, it meant another replay against a Devonian club.
“Yippee,” Klopp said sarcastically. His side could now face nine games in January. The reunion at Home Park will come with very different facilities.
“The dressing rooms are not as luxurious as they are here,” Adams said. “We are in a Portakabin. Welcome to the real world.”
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