Liverpool’s FA Cup dreams came crashing down as Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle secured a shocking 1-0 victory in the fourth round on Sunday, February 9, ending the Reds’ hopes of a quadruple.
Manager Arne Slot’s gamble to rotate his squad backfired, with Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty sealing a memorable win at Home Park. Key players like Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson, and Cody Gakpo were rested, as Slot made 10 changes from the side that dominated Tottenham 4-0 in the League Cup semi-final.
Despite an otherwise impressive debut season for Slot, this marked Liverpool’s fourth loss across all competitions and only the third time they failed to score under his leadership. Additionally, it was just the fourth instance in FA Cup history where the Premier League leaders were knocked out by a lower-division side.
The Reds now face the challenge of bouncing back in time for Wednesday’s Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park. However, with a win potentially extending their lead over Arsenal to nine points, and a Champions League last-16 spot and League Cup final against Newcastle still ahead, there is little room for panic.
For Plymouth’s manager, Miron Muslic, this victory was deeply personal. Appointed in January after Wayne Rooney’s dismissal, Muslic’s journey to the dugout was shaped by his past as a Bosnian war refugee. Having fled the siege of Bihac in 1992, this victory marked a defining moment in his managerial career.
Plymouth’s triumph is being hailed as one of the greatest FA Cup upsets, adding to their scalps of Premier League teams Brentford and West Brom earlier in the season.
Liverpool’s weakened lineup struggled, with their troubles compounded when Joe Gomez limped off early in the first half. Plymouth held firm, restricting the Reds to just one shot on target in the first 36 minutes, which was kept out by goalkeeper Conor Hazard.
A handball by Harvey Elliott in the 54th minute gave Plymouth a golden opportunity, and Hardie made no mistake from the spot. Late efforts from Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were denied by Hazard, sealing Plymouth’s remarkable win as they celebrated in front of a jubilant home crowd.
Elsewhere, Wolves advanced to the fifth round with a 2-0 win over Blackburn, while Tottenham’s FA Cup hopes hang in the balance ahead of their clash with Aston Villa on Sunday, February 9.
