Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie, centre, celebrates scoring from the penalty spot for the only goal in his side's upset win over Liverpool at Home Park in Plymouth, 9 Feb, 2025. Photo: AFP
A much-changed Liverpool were dumped out of the FA Cup by struggling second-tier side Plymouth Argyle, who pulled off a stunning 1-0 fourth round win at Home Park that put an end to the visitors' hopes of a quadruple.
The hosts took the lead in the 53rd minute after they were awarded a penalty for a handball by midfielder Harvey Elliott and Ryan Hardie stepped up to send Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way.
"We all came here today with a dream and we have done it. I don't know what to say," forward Hardie told ITV. "There is obviously a lot of pressure. It is about picking your side, and I committed to it," he said when asked about his penalty.
Premier League leaders Liverpool were bereft of ideas and had just one shot on target in the opening half, with Plymouth keeper Conor Hazard making a diving save in the 36th minute to keep out James McConnell's long-range shot.
Ahead of the Merseyside derby against Everton on Wednesday, Liverpool made wholesale changes with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister among the big names rested and left at home.
Liverpool, who were also forced into an early change when defender Joe Gomez went down injured, failed to create many chances in a scrappy encounter as Plymouth, who sit bottom of the second-tier Championship, gradually grew in confidence.
Arne Slot's side switched gears after going down but Hazard proved to be the hero for Plymouth as the Northern Irishman brilliantly kept out Diogo Jota's volley in added time, as well as a header from Darwin Nunez.
"At the end of the day, it is my job. So I am delighted with that," Hazard said when asked about the Jota save.
With Liverpool top of the Premier League, having strolled into the Champions League's last 16 and reached the League Cup final, some fans and pundits had begun to speculate about a potential quadruple.
Plymouth's remarkable victory, however, brought a shuddering halt to talk of a clean sweep of silverware for Slot's side, who had only lost three games all season, before Monday.
Having made 10 changes to the side that hammered Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield on Thursday, Slot had no regrets over his team selection against Plymouth.
Nunez was the only established first-team player the Dutchman brought off the bench as Liverpool chased an equaliser at Plymouth, with the Uruguayan striker coming on in the 58th minute.
"(No regrets) because we've seen a few times already, it's a playing style that is difficult. I think today showed why we played with who we used, they need momentum to be ready for the upcoming months. We saw it today," Slot told reporters.
"The result is obvious, a big disappointment. Way we played, not a lot to be happy about. The boys kept fighting for 100 minutes. They kept fighting but credit to Plymouth, a good game-plan, worked hard and it was a clear penalty, correct decision."
In the other two FA Cup ties, Aston Villa beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Villa Park to advance into the Cup fifth round for the first time in 10 years, while Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Championship side Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Ewood Park.
- Reuters
