Liverpool anticipate a tough reception as Caoimhin Kelleher acknowledges a ‘challenging’ reality.

Caoimhin Kelleher acknowledges that Liverpool are preparing for a tough atmosphere at Plymouth Argyle on Sunday but believes Arne Slot’s squad will be mentally ready for the challenge.

The Reds face a long trip to the South Coast for their FA Cup fourth-round tie against the struggling Championship side. They enter the match fresh from securing a second consecutive League Cup final appearance with a dominant 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in Thursday’s semi-final second leg.

Despite sitting at the bottom of the Championship, Plymouth recently drew with promotion-chasing Sunderland, defeated West Brom at home, and stunned Brentford in the third round. Kelleher, expected to retain his spot in goal after impressing against Tottenham, insists Liverpool are well aware of the challenge awaiting them at a sold-out Home Park.

“It’s going to be tough,” said the Republic of Ireland international. “It’s a massive game for them, and having us visit makes it even bigger. They’ll be up for it, and their fans will be too.

“Even though they haven’t had the best season, that doesn’t matter in a cup tie. They might see this as an opportunity to turn things around, especially against us.

“We know they’ll be highly motivated, but our mentality is always spot on. We approach every game with the aim of winning, and in cup competitions, we’re a difficult team to beat.”

Liverpool are expected to rotate their squad, with fringe and young players likely to feature, as they did in the third-round win over Accrington Stanley.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Kelleher emphasized the importance of squad depth: “Everyone needs to be ready to step in and play their part. The manager reminds us that injuries and other situations arise, so squad players must be prepared.

“We train at high intensity every day, and that keeps everyone sharp. When needed, we’re all rea

dy to step up.”