Liverpool suffered a humiliating FA Cup exit as Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory in the fourth round on Sunday, February 9, effectively ending their quadruple bid.
Manager Arne Slot’s decision to field a weakened team came back to haunt him, with Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty sealing Plymouth’s epic upset at Home Park. Stars like Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson, and Cody Gakpo were among those rested, with Slot making 10 changes from the team that thrashed Tottenham 4-0 in the League Cup semi-final.
It was a rare misstep in an otherwise successful first season for the former Feyenoord boss. Liverpool’s fourth defeat in all competitions this season was only the third time they had failed to score under Slot. Furthermore, this marks just the fourth instance in FA Cup history where the Premier League leaders were eliminated by a lower division club.
Liverpool now face the daunting task of shaking off the embarrassment in time for the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park against Everton on Wednesday. However, there is little cause for panic as a win would extend their lead over second-placed Arsenal to nine points in the title race. The Reds are also through to the Champions League last 16 and have a League Cup final against Newcastle in March.
For Plymouth’s manager, Miron Muslic, the victory was a triumph in more ways than one. Having replaced the sacked Wayne Rooney in January, Muslic’s journey to managing the team was shaped by his childhood experiences as a refugee from Bosnia. After escaping the siege of his hometown, Bihac, in 1992, Muslic’s victory against Liverpool was a career-defining moment.
This stunning win is being hailed as one of the greatest giant-killings in FA Cup history, adding to Plymouth’s impressive victories against Premier League sides Brentford and West Brom earlier in the season.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s under-strength lineup faltered, further weakened when Joe Gomez limped off injured early in the first half. Plymouth’s resilience kept Liverpool at bay, and it wasn’t until the 36th minute that the Reds registered a shot on target, which was repelled by Plymouth keeper Conor Hazard.
Liverpool’s frustration grew as a handball by Harvey Elliott in the 54th minute led to Hardie converting the resulting penalty. Despite late efforts from Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, Hazard made crucial saves, ensuring the shock victory for Plymouth, who celebrated in front of an ecstatic home crowd.
Elsewhere, Wolves cruised into the fifth round with a 2-0 win at Blackburn, while Tottenham’s hopes of a cup run hang in the balance as they prepare to face Aston Villa on Sunday, February 9.