Liverpool are out of the FA Cup after a dismal performance away at Plymouth Argyle.

Sitting at the top of the Premier League, the Reds should have comfortably dispatched the side dead bottom of the Championship.

However, with Arne Slot taking a hugely under-strength side to Home Park, Liverpool got what they deserved and were sent crashing out.

Despite it being only Liverpool’s fourth defeat of the season, it was a tough one to take given the performance of the team.

Football news LIVE: Plymouth draw Man City in FA Cup after beating Liverpool, Saka spotted in training, Postecoglou defends Tottenham side	Why Liverpool struggled to break down Plymouth Argyle	Wataru Endo: The ‘Silent Samurai’ of Modern Football

For the away fans who had travelled hundreds of miles to watch the game, it must have felt like a slap in the face.

Nevertheless, every cloud does indeed have a silver lining.

And as they aim to win the bigger prizes this season, the ease on the Liverpool fixture list after being knocked out might be the only positive to take.

Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Given they were playing lowly opposition, Liverpool would likely have pencilled an FA Cup fifth round fixture into their plans.

But after losing unexpectedly, the Reds are now set to have a football-free weekend for once.

MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES

The calendar has been punishing recently, with Wednesday’s rearranged Merseyside Derby adding more pressure to proceedings.

Losing has a way of freeing these things up, though.

And having crashed out, Liverpool will now have no fixture on the weekend of the 1st and 2nd of March.

READ MORE: Why Curtis Jones did not come off the bench during Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat to Plymouth

With the FA Cup fifth round scheduled to take place over those two days, that will mean a 10-day gap opens up between Liverpool’s games at Anfield against Newcastle on February 26th and Southampton on March 8th.

As per uefa.com, Liverpool will be playing in the Champions League in between, however, with the first-leg – for the Reds the away leg- of the last-16 ties booked in for March 4th and 5th.

As a result, the Reds will have a week off between facing Newcastle and an away trip in Europe.

It has felt rare this season that Liverpool have been able to count on a full week off.

Footballers don’t necessarily want these little rests as it obviously means you are not competing at the business end of the season for trophies.

But given that Liverpool are expected to be battling for both the Premier League and the Champions League, perhaps the FA Cup was a necessary sacrifice.

Had the Reds played Wednesday’s derby when they were supposed to, maybe things would have been different.
For more news relating to Newcastle United, visit our sister site NUFC Latest Live.