Arne Slot vowed to hand minutes to Liverpool's fringe players in the FA Cup game at Plymouth Argyle this afternoon. So far, the draw gods have been kind to the Reds in this competition, pairing them with lower-league opposition in both the third round and the fourth round, allowing Slot to shuffle his pack.
"I think it is important in these moments for players that don't get much playing time to have that playing time, so that if we ever need them then they are ready," Slot said in a pre-match press conference on Friday. "If you never play them, it is so difficult for them to be ready if we do get some injuries or suspensions. We will definitely use some players that haven't played so much."
READ MORE: Arne Slot has already told Liverpool transfer 'target' why he will not be signing him
READ MORE: 6 times Gary Neville has got Liverpool completely wrong as latest prediction backfires
Last month's game against Accrington Stanley saw Rio Ngumoha come into the starting line-up, and while the Reds are once again the heavy favorites to get the job done on the South Coast, Plymouth represents a step-up in opposition from Stanley, and it would be bold of Slot to hand the 16-year-old another start against a Championship side.
It would be more sensible to restore Luis Diaz to the starting line-up on the left wing after the Colombian was an unused substitute versus Spurs last week. Through the middle, Diogo Jota should come in for Darwin Nunez after returning to fitness, while Federico Chiesa will be chomping at the bit after seeing his game time increase in recent weeks.
Harvey Elliott is another player who has struggled for game time, and while he has played most of his soccer for Liverpool out wide, he is equally capable playing as the most advanced midfielder in a three. Wataru Endo deserves minutes just as much as Ryan Gravenberch deserves a rest, while Alexis Mac Allister should be fresh to start having only figured from the 72nd minute against Spurs.
Liverpool's back-up back five still looks pretty impressive, and Conor Bradley could soon be part of Slot's first-choice back five. Jarell Quansah was partnered by Endo in the third round, but Joe Gomez was injured then and will expect to line up now that he is back to full fitness. Kostas Tsimikas and Caoimhin Kelleher are the other logical picks.
How Liverpool should line up vs Plymouth Argyle: Kelleher; Bradley, Gomez, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister, Elliott; Chiesa, Diaz, Jota
