If Liverpool's line-up for Wednesday's final Merseyside league derby at Goodison Park already almost picked itself, then it certainly does now. Arne Slot was always taking a risk by making 10 changes for yesterday's FA Cup clash at Plymouth Argyle.

But Slot must privately have been disappointed by the way that some of the senior players, who were given the chance to hand the the Liverpool head coach a selection headache for the massive Premier League match at Everton, performed against the Championship strugglers.

Few came out of the shock 1-0 loss with any credit and it would be a major surprise if 11 changes were not made for the trip across Stanley Park.

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In Ian Doyle's player ratings for the ECHO, three Reds were awarded just 4/10 - Harvey Elliott, whose handball in the box led to Plymouth's penalty winner, Luis Diaz and Federico Chiesa.

And it was Chiesa who came in for particular criticism from a Liverpool legend after the Home Park humbling.

The 27-year-old Italy international, one of the stars of the delayed Euro 2020 tournament, was making just his third straight for the Reds following his £10m summer switch from Juventus.

But Steve Nicol, who won 10 trophies during his decorated 13-year Anfield career, does not believe Chiesa will be getting more opportunities under Slot.

"You know the biggest disappointment today? Chiesa," Nicol said on ESPN FC. "I know when they signed him it was a bit of a gamble because he’d been out injured for so long. But the pedigree the guy’s got, you would expect at least something from him today.

"Maybe not scoring goals and all of that, but showing yourself on the field and helping the younger guys, showing your experience.

"The guy’s got a European winner’s medal. But he’s been an absolute bust today. If you’re Slot you’ll be lying in bed thinking, 'I hope I don’t need him'."

Liverpool lead the Premier League by six points, with their game in hand coming against Everton in midweek, and are through to the Carabao Cup final, where they will play Newcastle United at Wembley next month, as well as the last 16 of the Champions League.

So while disappointed to be out of the FA Cup, Slot insisted he had no regrets about the team he named against Plymouth and made clear that players like Chiesa still have a big part to play in the rest of the campaign.

The Reds boss said: "Regrets? No because you never know what would happen if we played with our starters over here.

"I think during the season we have seen a few times already that this is a game plan [from Plymouth], a style which is difficult for our starters but also for the players who started today. So constantly long balls, second balls, long balls. It's difficult for every team.

"We had this with Manchester United earlier in the season, and it was the same, going into a low block, kicking every ball long and we played with our starters in that game.

"So today I think it showed why we used these ones today because these players need game rhythm as well in the upcoming months, they need game time and you saw today, some of these players need to be like this to be ready for the final few months of the season."