The last time Liverpool visited Plymouth Argyle, their manager Jurgen Klopp was caught unawares by a giant Cornish pasty. His successor Arne Slot, though, will be hoping to avoid any such surprises as he aims to continue his remarkable debut campaign in the Anfield hotseat.

The Reds make the long journey to Devon this weekend to take on the bottom-placed Championship side in the FA Cup fourth round.

The exact distance became apparent to Klopp in the wake of Liverpool's most recent visit to Home Park for a third round replay back in January 2017. Lucas Leiva headed the only goal and Divock Origi missed a penalty, but the occasion is perhaps best remembered for Klopp being handed a huge pasty in the press room after the game that pointed out there are 293 miles from Liverpool to Plymouth.

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Only Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez remain at Anfield from the 18 players involved for Liverpool that evening. And while the former won't be involved this time due to a thigh injury sustained at Bournemouth last weekend, the latter is expected to be among several players to step in with Slot continuing to rotate his resources.

The game is Liverpool's third of eight in 26 days during February, with the anticipated free midweeks opened up by avoiding the Champions League play-off round now filled by tough rearranged Premier League games at Everton on Wednesday and Aston Villa a week later.

The likes of Wataru Endo, Jarell Quansah, James McConnell, Kostas Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa are also likely to come in, while neither Luis Diaz nor Diogo Jota started the League Cup semi-final second leg win over Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday and could line up against the Pilgrims. Teenagers Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha - the latter who became Liverpool's youngest-ever starter in the FA Cup third round win over Accrington Stanley next month - are also pressing for inclusion having not been involved for the Academy teams over the weekend.

Most featured during the 3-2 defeat at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League dead rubber late last month, which Slot maintains was important in giving minutes to players who hadn't had much opportunity in previous weeks.

"I think it's always a tricky tie no matter what team you play because it's an away game, it's their final probably – as is many times when Liverpool comes anywhere," says the Reds head coach of the Plymouth game.

"But it is true that if you play with a team that hasn't played so much together that that is always for the players a bit more difficult. But I think we've seen already a few times when we played with a team that hasn't played already together – even in Eindhoven in the Champions League – these players were able to play a very good game.

"So, I think it's important in these moments for some players that don't get (much) playing time to have their playing time, so whenever we need them they are ready. If you never play them then it's so difficult for them to be ready if we do get some injuries or suspensions."

The game will offer another opportunity for Quansah with the centre-back having found it more difficult to gain regular minutes compared to his impressive breakthrough campaign last term.

"I feel like at a club like this, you always have to prove yourself," he says. "It's not just because of maybe a change of manager or coaching staff, I think you've always got to prove yourself because we're always looking in the market for the best players in the world and you're always competing against the best.

"Just like last season, I'm learning and just trying to get better and better, really. It just takes hard work and what I do on the training pitch will help put me in good stead for what I do in the games."

Quansah maintained his record of having featured in every domestic cup game this season when he was introduced during the closing moments on Thursday for Virgil van Dijk, who he is likely to replace in the starting line-up at Plymouth. And the benefit of learning from the Liverpool skipper isn't lost on the 22-year-old.

"Obviously he's been in my position before and knows what it takes to be a young centre-back and that it can be hard at times," says Quansah. "He sort of just helps me stay level and tries to push me through if it gets hard.

"He's taught me you can't get too high with the highs and you can't get too low with the lows, that sort of stuff, so I think he's a great head to lean into and to tap into."