Liverpool switch their focus to the FA Cup this weekend as they take on Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle in the fourth round.
Arne Slot’s team remain on course for Premier League glory provided that they can keep Arsenal comfortably behind them in the standings, having also put themselves into the EFL Cup final midweek.
Slot picked a strong XI as the Reds pummeled Tottenham 4-0 en route to a spot at Wembley. As a result, he could rotate the side heavily on the weekend with Liverpool set to meet a lower-league opponent.
Plymouth sacked Wayne Rooney as manager in late December and have enjoyed at least some improvement in results since then, losing only twice since the turn of the year. However, they remain rooted to the foot of the Championship table, so the confidence boost that would come with a shock cup win over Liverpool would be most welcome.
The Sporting News looks at the latest team news and predicted lineups for this fixture.
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Plymouth Argyle vs. Liverpool lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Plymouth boss Miron Muslic could largely keep faith with the team that secured a valuable 2-1 league win over West Brom last time out, although Malachi Boateng, signed from Hearts just before the transfer deadline, could make his debut in midfield. Fellow new addition Maksym Talovierov should keep his place in defence.
Ryan Hardie scored twice in that game after coming off the bench and may well have earned a start here in the process.
Plymouth Argyle predicted lineup (3-4-3, right to left): Hazard (GK) — Talovierov, Katic, Pleguezuelo — Sorinola, Randell, Boateng, Puchacz — Baidoo, Hardie — Bundu.
Injured: None.
Suspended: None.
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Slot is likely to go with a similar team to that which beat Accrington Stanley in round three, although he will be wary of any tired legs from Thursday’s clash with Spurs.
Trent Alexander-Arnold missed that game and, with the rearranged Merseyside derby coming up next Wednesday, it seems unlikely he will be rushed back to take the field against a lower-league opponent.
Caoimhin Kelleher could start in goal as he did in the EFL Cup days prior, while Wednesday’s star performer Conor Bradley is likely to reprise his role in defence alongside a possible introduction of Jarell Quansah. If Joe Gomez isn’t quite ready to return from his injury, Wataru Endo could potentially be handed another out-of-position start at centre-back to give Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate a rest.
Tyler Morton will hope for another chance to impress in midfield, and Federico Chiesa may get another opportunity in the first XI and finally getting some game time under his belt recently.
Liverpool predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Kelleher (GK) — Bradley, Quansah, Endo, Tsimikas — Mac Allister, Morton, Jones — Elliott, Nunez, Chiesa.
Injured: Alexander-Arnold (thigh, doubt), Gomez (muscle, doubt).
Suspended: None.
Plymouth Argyle vs. Liverpool live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this FA Cup match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | — | ESPN+ |
| Canada | Sportsnet | Sportsnet Now Plus |
| UK | ITV1, STV | ITVX, STV Player |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | — | — |
