Plymouth Argyle Beats Liverpool 1-0 in Stunning FA Cup Upset
Plymouth Argyle beats Liverpool 1-0 pulling off a shocking FA Cup upset in the fourth round (round of 32) on Sunday. The Championship side eliminated the Reds from the competition with a penalty goal from Ryan Hardy in the 53rd minute, securing their place in the next round.
Early Blow for Liverpool
Liverpool entered the match with a mix of young and reserve players. Dutch coach Arne Slot decided to rest key players, leaving Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Andy Robertson out of the starting lineup.
In the opening minutes, Slot’s plans suffered a setback when defender Joe Gomez was forced off due to injury after only 8 minutes. Isaac Mabaia replaced Gomez, making an early impact.
Limited Chances in the First Half
Neither team created significant danger in the first half. Liverpool had their best chance when James McConnell fired a shot from outside the penalty area in the 36th minute, but it was saved by Plymouth’s goalkeeper Conor Hazard.
Plymouth had a couple of attempts but failed to find the target, with Bondo’s shot sailing over the crossbar. The first half ended with a 0-0 draw.
Plymouth Scores from the Spot
The second half saw Plymouth come close to scoring with a shot from Wright, which was blocked by a defender. The decisive moment came when Elliott made a costly mistake by handling the ball inside the penalty area. The referee awarded Plymouth a penalty, and Ryan Hardy stepped up to score the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute.
Liverpool’s Late Push and Plymouth’s Defense
Liverpool increased their pressure in the final minutes, hoping for an equalizer, but Plymouth’s defense remained resilient. Despite a few close calls, including a missed opportunity from McConnell and a volley from Jota that was saved by Hazard, the Reds couldn’t find the back of the net.
Hazard’s Heroics and Final Whistle
In stoppage time, Liverpool had a header from Nunez that looked destined to score, but Hazard made another crucial save to keep Plymouth in the lead. Hazard’s performance was key in keeping Liverpool at bay as Plymouth held on for a historic 1-0 victory.
