Plymouth Argyle delivered one of the most remarkable upsets in FA Cup history, defeating Premier League leaders Liverpool 1-0 at Home Park to secure their place in the fifth round of the competition.
Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty proved decisive as the Sky Bet Championship’s bottom club overcame a heavily rotated Liverpool side to spark jubilant celebrations in Devon.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot opted to rest several key players, including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Alexis Mac Allister, following their midweek victory over Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.
However, the decision backfired as the Reds struggled to break down a resolute Plymouth defense, marshaled superbly by Ukrainian center-back Maksym Talovyerov.
A Day of Drama at Home Park
The atmosphere at Home Park was electric from the outset, with a sold-out crowd and a sea of green and white flags creating a carnival-like setting.
Plymouth, buoyed by their supporters, made an energetic start, with Hardie testing Liverpool’s defense in the opening minute.
Joe Gomez, captaining Liverpool for the first time since recovering from a hamstring injury, blocked Hardie’s effort but was forced off just 11 minutes later due to a recurrence of his injury.
Isaac Mabaya replaced him, making his senior debut.
The first half was a scrappy affair, disrupted by stoppages, including a dental injury to Plymouth defender Nikola Katic.
Liverpool struggled to find rhythm on the lively pitch, while Plymouth remained organized and determined.
The best chance of the half fell to Liverpool’s James McConnell, whose deflected strike forced Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard into a sprawling save.
Hardie’s Moment of Glory
The breakthrough came eight minutes into the second half.
A high ball from Darko Gyabi struck the raised arm of Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott inside the penalty area, leaving referee Sam Barrott with no hesitation in awarding a penalty.
Hardie calmly stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, sending Hazard the wrong way and sparking wild celebrations among the home fans.
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Liverpool responded by introducing Darwin Nunez from the bench, but Plymouth nearly doubled their lead just minutes later.
Katic’s clever knockdown set up Hardie, whose shot struck the post after a slight touch from Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Replays suggested Hardie may have been offside, but with no VAR in operation, any goal would have stood.
Liverpool’s Late Push Falls Short
As time ticked away, Liverpool ramped up the pressure. McConnell fired wide following a defensive lapse from Plymouth, while Hazard produced stunning saves to deny efforts from Diogo Jota and Nunez.
Despite nine minutes of added time, Plymouth held firm to secure one of the most famous victories in their history.
A Night to Remember for Plymouth
Plymouth manager Miron Muslic described Liverpool as “the best team in the world” before the match, but his side rose to the occasion magnificently.
Talovyerov’s commanding performance in defense epitomized their resilience, as they recorded just their third clean sheet of the season across all competitions.
For Liverpool, this defeat marks only the fourth time in FA Cup history that a team leading the Premier League has been eliminated by opposition from outside the top flight.
It also ends their hopes of completing a historic quadruple this season.
Slot’s decision to rotate his squad will undoubtedly be scrutinized in the days ahead.
As for Plymouth, this victory will live long in the memory of their fans.
They now look ahead to the fifth round with renewed confidence and belief that anything is possible in football’s oldest cup competition.
