Ryan Hardie's 53rd minute Penalty insured Plymouth Argyle a 1-0 win and the biggest upset of the FA Cup this season when they eliminated Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The bottom of the championship stopped the Reds to score this season for the third time, with the hope of Liverpool on a potential quadruple cut.
Liverpool had made 10 changes of their last Premier League outing, and they struggled to find their rhythm, with Plymouth determined to dig in deep to keep their visitors at a distance.
It took the Reds 36 minutes to have their first shot on goal in the game, with the bent shot of James McConnell that forced Conor Hazard to the left low down.
Plymouth, however, started the second half with intention and received their rewards when Darko Gyabi, with his back to the goal, hit the ball over his head and against the accessible arm of Harvey Elliott, with the referee straight to the place.
Hardie stepped up cool from 12 meters, drill it in the upper left corner of the net while Caoimhin Kelleher went the wrong way and sent the home fans in rapture.
The striker could have made it at least seven minutes later, while Nikola Katic nodded in the box. Kostas Tsimikas missed his approval, but Kelleher was there to tip Hardie's Half Volley on the inside of the post.
Plymouth groats deep and put an exemplary defense view while Liverpool pushed to an equalizer. McConnell shot wide from an empty just before Hazard made two brilliant late saves, the enforcement of Diogo Jota's Volley and the late header of Darwin Nunez out.
Argyle defeated the Premier League leaders! pic.twitter.com/pa7ebzpNKB
– Plymouth Argyle FC (@argyle) February 9, 2025
Data debrief: one for the books
Only three times earlier, the Premier League leaders from the FA Cup were beaten by one side outside the top, where Plymouth joined Leeds United, Bradford City and Wigan Athletic.
It is only the fifth time that the pilgrims have reached the FA Cup fifth round, and the first since 2006-07, which ends a point of four consecutive outputs of the fourth round.
Liverpool only suffered a fourth defeat under Arne slot. In fact, the Reds before this match were unbeaten in eight games against Plymouth in all competitions (W5 D3), a run dating from February 2016 (4-0).
It was an excellent defensive display from Plymouth, where Katic led them. Today he made 11, the most by a player in a match against Liverpool since March 2020 (Stefan Savic for Atletico Madrid, 11).
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