Liverpool were deservedly beaten in the FA Cup after failing to turn up against Plymouth.
The Reds were heavy favourites to beat the side bottom of the Championship but in the end they barely laid a glove on their opponents.
With Arne Slot taking a much-changed team to Home Park, it was big opportunity for some of the more fringe players in the Liverpool squad.
We felt it was a big day for Harvey Elliott, but in truth it was arguably the 21-year-old’s worst ever performance in a Liverpool shirt.
Federico Chiesa has had far less of a sample size to base that on, but the same was probably true of the Italian as well.
And speaking immediately after the game, pundit Karen Carney slammed what she’d seen from Chiesa.
Federico Chiesa ‘not good enough’ against Plymouth
Ultimately, Liverpool have bigger fish to fry than the FA Cup this season. In the long run, less games across the campaign’s sharp end may help them win the bigger prizes.
However, it is never nice to get beaten and especially against an opponent they really should have put to the sword.
Perhaps Slot deserves criticism for taking such a young team to Devon, but there were still a sprinkling of more senior players, too.
These are the ones who really should be disappointed in their performances. And speaking to ITV, Carney singled Chiesa out in particular.
READ MORE: What was spotted about Joe Gomez as he went off injured for Liverpool against Plymouth
“Chiesa I thought to be honest was poor,” she said. “All Liverpool fans after his injuries are wanting him to do well, but he was way off it today, not good enough.
“I am disappointed from Liverpool. It shows that when you take out the senior players it’s not the same.”
Chiesa not the only one to blame
Chiesa was poor at Plymouth, there’s no getting away from that. The Italian could not beat his man no matter how many times he faced him up. It was a tough watch.
But Chiesa was far from the only culprit. Luis Diaz was equally as bad on the opposite side, while it cannot be understated just how bad Elliott was.
Kostas Tsimikas also looked uninterested throughout the game, while Jarell Quansah continues to be sloppy in possession.
So, perhaps a little unfair for Federico to be singled out. But he certainly hasn’t done his chances of starting more games any favours.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
