New Delhi: Plymouth Argyle produced one of the biggest shocks of the tournament as they progressed to the next round at the expense of Premier League leaders Liverpool. The Reds’ FA Cup campaign came to a shocking halt as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Championship strugglers at Home Park. A much-changed Reds side, featuring 10 alterations from their Carabao Cup win over Tottenham, struggled to find any rhythm, allowing Plymouth to produce a classic cup giant-killing and secure a place in the fifth round.
Arne Slot’s tactical approach raised eyebrows from the start, with young James McConnell deployed at right-back. That setup was disrupted early on when Joe Gomez picked up an injury, forcing academy prospect Isaac Mabaya into action. The Reds dominated possession, boasting 72% in the first half, yet failed to translate that control into meaningful chances. Plymouth, meanwhile, created the more dangerous opportunities, forcing Caoimhin Kelleher into action on several occasions.
Despite their control, Liverpool’s attack was sluggish, managing just a single shot in the opening 30 minutes. Plymouth, buoyed by their home crowd, grew in confidence, and as the game wore on, it became clear that the Reds would need a major lift to break down a resolute Argyle defense. The breakthrough came just minutes into the second half when Liverpool were dealt a costly blow.
What a result for Plymouth 💚 pic.twitter.com/bi0ps39wtT
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 9, 2025
Harvey Elliott’s outstretched arm made contact with the ball inside the penalty area, leaving the referee with little choice but to point to the spot. Plymouth’s Ryan Hardie stepped up and emphatically converted, sending Home Park into raptures. That goal sparked a belated reaction from Liverpool, with Slot immediately throwing on Darwin Núñez in an attempt to salvage the game.
Following that Luis Díaz saw his close-range shot blocked following a deflected cross from Federico Chiesa, but the Reds continued to struggle in the final third. The introduction of 18-year-old Trent Kone-Doherty added another attacking option, yet Plymouth’s backline, led by Nikola Katic and Maksym Talovierov, stood firm. As Liverpool pushed for an equalizer, goalkeeper Conor Hazard became the hero, producing a stunning double save to deny Diogo Jota and a powerful header from Núñez.
Despite nine minutes of stoppage time, Liverpool failed to find a way through, and as the final whistle blew, Plymouth’s players and fans erupted in celebration. For manager Miron Muslic, who recently took over from Wayne Rooney, it was a momentous victory that will be remembered as one of the greatest in the club’s history. This win would give a massive morale boost to the Pilgrims during their troublesome 2024/25 campaign.
The Magic of the FA Cup strikes again
Being the oldest cup competition in the history of football, the FA Cup is know for such Cinderella stories and tonight for the perfect example of the magic of the tournament being alive once again. Each day of the fourth round of the tournament saw a massive moment but none proved to be bigger than Plymouth’s statement victory. The fourth round kicked off with a last minute winner for Manchester United and last night saw Premier League giants Chelsea get eliminated from the tournament.
Tonight, in what was expected to be a routine win for the Reds, turned out to be a historic one for the Pilgrims. With Liverpool sitting on top of the Premier League standings and Plymouth sitting right at the bottom of the Championship table, the two sides are placed 43 spots apart in the English league system. However, that didn’t have any effect on the hosts and they managed to pull off a memorable upset.
1 – Table-topping Premier League teams to lose in the FA Cup against sides from outside the top-flight:
2002 Leeds vs Cardiff
2015 Chelsea vs Bradford
2018 Man City vs Wigan
2025 Liverpool vs PlymouthFelled. pic.twitter.com/ytoX0rXImN
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 9, 2025
Liverpool will now remain focused on their Premier League and Carabao Cup ambitions, their early FA Cup exit is a bitter disappointment and they’re officially out of completing a domestic treble this season. Slot’s decision to heavily rotate his squad backfired, exposing the lack of depth and cohesion among the second-string players. While they still have a Carabao Cup final on the horizon, completing a domestic treble for the first time in their history would’ve been a great achievement for the club.
For Plymouth, this was a night to remember. Despite sitting at the bottom of the Championship, they delivered a performance full of grit, determination, and resilience. The FA Cup once again proved its magic, as one of England’s biggest clubs fell to a team fighting for survival in the second tier. Liverpool will now turn their attention back to their league campaign, while Plymouth will hope this famous victory provides the momentum they need to climb out of the relegation zone.
Championship side Plymouth Argyle pulled off the biggest upset of this year’s FA Cup as they knocked out giants Liverpool via a second half Ryan Hardie penalty to book their place in the next round. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
