Liverpool 0 '“ 0 Plymouth: Adams hails Argyle's defensive triumph

Plymouth manager Derek Adams believes his side's FA Cup third-round goalless draw at Liverpool was one of the best defensive performances seen at Anfield.
Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams gives visiting fans a thumbs up after the 0-0 draw at Anfield. Picture: PA/Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams gives visiting fans a thumbs up after the 0-0 draw at Anfield. Picture: PA/
Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams gives visiting fans a thumbs up after the 0-0 draw at Anfield. Picture: PA/

The Sky Bet League Two high-fliers became only the fifth side in the last year to keep a clean sheet at the home of the free-scoring Reds.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will point to the fact he named the club’s youngest side in their history – with an average age of 21 years and 296 days – as a mitigating factor, but there was no doubt about the resilience and determination of the visitors.

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“It is probably one of the best defensive performances Anfield has seen,” said Adams. “We limited Liverpool to not many [opportunities]. We dealt with them well and the players have worked extremely hard.

“It would be naive as a manager to come to Anfield and think you can go at top-class players. We are a League Two club, they are a Premier League club with players at international level.

“We allowed them time but didn’t allow them space. This was about a team performance. We had 13 players and they all deserve a huge amount of credit.”

Liverpool dominated possession – after 35 minutes it was 84 per cent – but did not do enough to trouble goalkeeper Luke McCormick as Klopp’s youngsters found their way blocked by a green wall of players.

“They could have had 90 per cent if they wanted, the game plan was not to let them score,” added former Aberdeen, Motherwell and Ross County manager Adams, who is already looking forward to the replay at Home Park. Asked what Liverpool could expect in the return fixture the Scot said: “Welcome to the real world.”

Lucas Leiva was making his 329th appearance for the Reds – the same number as all his other ten team-mates combined – but Liverpool really needed the know-how in a more advanced position than central defence.

Alongside him was Joe Gomez, playing his first match for 465 days and his first appearance under Klopp after a serious knee injury and it proved a more than comfortable return for the 19-year-old.

Klopp, pictured left, defended his decision to make ten changes after witnessing his side put in a lacklustre performance in the 2-2 draw at Sunderland on Tuesday following a busy festive period.

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“I don’t think the line-up was a mistake,” he said. “I am responsible if you want to see it in a bad way. I always choose line-ups to win the game. We didn’t think about the age. They are important players in our squad.”

Nevertheless, Klopp was not too happy with the performance but attributed no blame to their opponents for making it a dull game.

“We could have done better, 100 per cent,” he added. “In the first half we lost patience too early: crossing at the wrong moment, making the wrong pass. We had the ball all the time. It was boring, not the most exciting game.”

A replay is the last thing Klopp wanted in a month which contains a two-legged EFL Cup semi-final against Southampton as well as a trip to Manchester United and the visit of league leaders Chelsea.

Asked about the prospect of a long midweek trip to Devon, the German responded: “Yippee. I don’t know if at home they can play the same defensive style. We are looking forward to it.”