Liverpool suffered a humiliating FA Cup exit as Championship strugglers Plymouth ended their quadruple hopes with a stunning 1-0 victory in the fourth round on Sunday.
Arne Slot’s decision to field a weakened side backfired, as Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty secured a famous win for Plymouth at Home Park.
Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson, and Cody Gakpo were all rested, with Slot making 10 changes from the team that thrashed Tottenham 4-0 in the League Cup semi-final second leg on Thursday.
Liverpool’s fourth defeat in all competitions this season was only the third time they had failed to score under Slot.
Liverpool Left Reeling
The Reds, top of the Premier League, must now regroup before facing Everton in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
Despite the setback, Liverpool remain in contention for silverware, sitting nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal, through to the Champions League last 16, and set to face Newcastle in the League Cup final.
Meanwhile, Plymouth’s stunning victory ranks among the FA Cup’s greatest giant-killings. Manager Miron Muslic, a former Bosnian war refugee, masterminded the triumph while battling to steer Argyle away from the Championship relegation zone.
Having already knocked out Premier League side Brentford in the third round, Plymouth’s spirited performance stunned Liverpool and their travelling fans.
Hardie’s Penalty Seals Historic Win
Under a winter sun on the Devon coast, Liverpool’s makeshift side struggled from the outset, made worse when Joe Gomez limped off early in the match.
Despite Liverpool’s dominance in possession, their first shot on target came in the 36th minute when James McConnell’s long-range effort was saved by Conor Hazard.
The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Darko Gyabi’s overhead kick was blocked by Harvey Elliott’s raised arm, leading to a clear penalty. Hardie kept his composure and sent Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way.
Liverpool pressed for an equaliser, but stoppage-time efforts from Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were brilliantly denied by Hazard, sparking wild celebrations at Home Park.