GOT A SLOT TO THINK ABOUT

Arne knows he has to learn from past mistakes

- BY IAN DOYLE

ARNE SLOT is not the first Liverpool boss to discover the perils of underestimating the FA Cup.

And, similar to Rafa Benitez and Jurgen Klopp before him, the Dutchman will hope to learn from his experience.

Slot had to field accusations of disrespecting the world’s most renowned domestic knockout competition last season when fielding a largely scratch side in the fourth round 1-0 defeat at a Plymouth side who were ultimately relegated from the Championship.

Benitez prompted a similar fury after a loss at Burnley in 2005, while Klopp's early years were littered with underwhelming FA Cup results with understrength lineups.

That both managers went on to lift the trophy at Liverpool - Benitez the following season, Klopp helm ing the Reds' eighth triumph in 2022 - indicates that the worth of the tournament ultimately registered.