Arne Slot did something ‘not anticipated’ at right-back once Liverpool kicked off against Plymouth

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Liverpool made the long trip down to Plymouth having left plenty of big names at home on Sunday.

The Reds have got a big rearranged fixture against Everton in midweek and took the opportunity to give plenty of starters a rest.

It was still a decent team put out by Arne Slot, though, despite four changes in the defence from Thursday’s win over Tottenham.

The headline news was that Joe Gomez was back in the side, and with no Conor Bradley or Trent Alexander-Arnold in the team, it had been expected that Gomez would slot in at right-back.

However, once the FA Cup tie kicked off at Home Park, it soon became clear that Slot had a very different plan in mind for Liverpool.

James McConnell starts at right-back

It was a welcome relief to see Gomez back in the team having not featured at all since the end of December.

Unfortunately, the 27-year-old’s day did not last long. After just eight minutes Gomez sank to the turf and was subsequently forced off injured.

On came young Isaac Mabaya to make his first ever senior appearance for Liverpool.

Before all of that, though, ITV commentator Sam Matterface noticed that James McConnell had actually started at right-back, with Gomez in the middle with Quansah.

“Interestingly, the Liverpool formation is not as anticipated,” Matterface mused.

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“With Joe Gomez on the left side of the defence, McConnell at right-back and Endo in midfield. McConnell’s traditional position is in the heart of midfield.”

“He’s just wandering into the midfield,” noticed co-commentator Lee Dixon. “So, he’s just tucking into the right-hand side and helping out in midfield.”

All change with Gomez injury

This was an interesting plan from Slot. Annoyingly, however, we never really got to see it in action.

With Gomez taken off and Mabaya on in his traditional right-back position, it was all change.

“McConnell goes into midfield, Endo will drop into the back-line next to Quansah and Mabaya will play at right-back,” Matterface noted.

The upshot of Slot’s selections – as well as having an impact on the day – would suggest that Alexander-Arnold may not be ready for Wednesday’s Merseyside Derby after all.