Plymouth Argyle produced one of the great shocks of the FA Cup, eliminating the leaders of the Premier League Liverpool with a superb 1-0 victory in Home Park.
The championship fighters challenged the chances of eliminating the side of Arne Slot, ending Liverpool’s dreams of a quadruple and writing a new famous chapter in the history of their club.
The decisive moment occurred in the 53rd minute when Ryan Hardie coldly converted a penalty, sending the crowd of the population.
The kick was rewarded after Harvey Elliott managed the ball inside the box, an incident that summed up a frustrating night for visitors.
Hardie, showing steel nerves, placed his shot in the lower left corner, sending the goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the wrong direction.
From this moment, the resolute defense of Plymouth took the front of the stage.
Many and many times, Liverpool threw everything to the local team in search of an equalizer, but they found no way to pass the Hazard inspired by Conor with the goal and a defensive trio of Maksym Talovov, Nikola Katic And Julio Plessguezuelo.
We leave the Emirates FA Cup. pic.twitter.com/apzwdwpust
– Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 9, 2025
Each block, authorization and interception was greeted by a roar of the faithful of the park at home while the outsiders held their land.
Liverpool, despite taking advantage of the lion’s possession, had trouble breaking their well -perceived opponents.
Darwin Nunez, introduced as a second half substitute, approached a late head, while Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz saw efforts blocked.
Hazard produced two breathtaking stops in the stop time, first denying Jota’s volley to the upper corner before stopping a head of Kelleher, who had joined the attack in despair.
The first half had been a disjointed affair, with Plymouth sticking to a clear match plan – disturbing the pace of Liverpool and playing at their own pace. The two parties were likely, McConnell forcing a dive backup from Hazard, while Plymouth saw Hardie denied by the tense foot of Kelleher just before the break.
As the game advanced, however, belief in the local team increased.
While the final whistle, Plymouth players and fans broke out to celebrate, knowing that they had won one of the most memorable victories in the history of their club.
The pilgrims have now reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the fifth time, while Liverpool is left to think about a humiliating exit in the hands of a side relegation which fights against the championship.
