Liverpool are out of this year's FA Cup after falling to defeat against Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle, with Arne Slot choosing to rest many of his regular first-team players - and many Liverpool fans in the ECHO comments section are finding it hard to take the result, even if it becomes a blessing for the squad's packed schedule.

Hopes of a quadruple trophy season are out, with Slot evidently choosing to focus on keeping their Premier League advantage, battling Newcastle United for the League Cup in March, and continuing their fine form in the Champions League. The likes of Salah, Van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and more were left at home, with a team of mostly squad players and youngsters joining the away fans on the long trip down to the south coast.

Plymouth's Ryan Hardie scored the only goal of the game after a penalty conceded by Harvey Elliott, and the Reds ended up not showing much attacking threat. Few seemed to make their case for inclusion in bigger games, with a Merseyside derby on the horizon.

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Plymouth's reward for winning the fixture was a fifth round draw against Manchester City. But some ECHO readers have found Liverpool's display hard to stomach.

Reader BreadPitt says: “Can you expect players to give their all if their manager shows arrogance and disrespect to the opponent and competition?”

Ade Halsall agrees: “There was absolutely no reason to throw that game today. The manager and senior players that played really need to take a look in the mirror and question their application today. Really hard to accept that result because we didn't need to allow it.”

Others say that the state of the squad on show at Plymouth didn't reflect well on Liverpool's lack of January business. DaisyDD writes: “No midfield presence today. Chiesa is not up to the LFC standard too slow but you can see his intelligence. Had he Salah in the box rather than Nunez it may have been a different outcome. Jota still recovering.

"The board need to look at this performance and take stock of our lack of depth. Luckily we have been quite fortunate with Arne's approach to managing players in both body and mind. Well done Plymouth, you had a game plan and succeeded.”

Scottjh says: “We didn’t need to spend in January they said. We have enough squad depth they said. That was a joke, we rested most of the first team and were left with 17/18 year olds with not much first team action.

"Let’s hope are first team can stay fit and in form for the rest of the season. Slot is in the same position as Klopp was, a world class 15 players, and the rest bang-average plus the kids.”

Still others say that it was the right move, with Ghostwriter adding: “Concentrate on beating Everton and going 9 points clear at the top of the league on Wednesday.

"Let the media and fans of our rivals have their fun, while the first team players channel any frustration into taking it out with a football lesson dished out at Goodison. Plymouth won today. Let them enjoy it. Our focus is on bigger things now.”

Rob1503 says: “That group of players should've been good enough to beat Plymouth. But Arne has prioritised the PL fixture vs Everton. And I think he was right to. It was a case of 'if we get a result then OK'. But if we don't, it declogs our fixture list.”

Corona writes: “Nobody wins four trophies, and by going for four you're more likely to end up with one, or none. It's alright talking about 'disrespect' to the competition or to Plymouth but you have to be pragmatic and strategic, and that is what Slot has done, just like Klopp did when he fielded kids against Everton in the cup.

"So well done Arne you did the right thing, let's now win the League Cup and then focus 100% on the Prem and the Champions League. They're the trophies we want.”

Have your say! Was it frustrating to go down to Plymouth Argyle in the Cup? Or is it the right strategic move? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.