Liverpool’s FA Cup journey ended in disappointment as Championship side Plymouth Argyle stunned them with a 1-0 victory in the fourth round on Sunday.
With Arne Slot rotating his squad ahead of the Merseyside derby, a disjointed Liverpool side fell victim to a Ryan Hardie penalty, securing a famous upset for the team bottom of the Championship.
How the Game Unfolded
🟥 First Half:
- Slot made 10 changes to his starting XI, leading to a lack of cohesion.
- Liverpool dominated possession but struggled to break down Plymouth’s defense.
- Plymouth were denied a penalty on the 30-minute mark after Mustapha Bundu went down under Kostas Tsimikas’ challenge.
- James McConnell’s long-range effort was the only shot on target in a frustrating first half.
⚽ Second Half:
- Plymouth finally got their penalty in the 52nd minute when Harvey Elliott handled the ball while jumping to block a pass.
- Ryan Hardie converted the penalty, sending Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way.
- Hardie hit the post minutes later, while Plymouth sat deep to protect their lead.
- Conor Hazard made two stunning saves late on to deny Diogo Jota and Jarell Quansah, securing a historic win for the Championship side.
Talking Points
1️⃣ Second-String Liverpool Come Unstuck
While Liverpool heavily rotated their squad, they still had enough talent to win. Yet, their forwards—Federico Chiesa, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz—failed to deliver.
- Poor attacking display: Minimal creativity from midfield, few clear-cut chances.
- Frustrating performance: Liverpool failed to penetrate Plymouth’s low block.
- Youngsters let down: Academy stars couldn’t shine due to lack of leadership from senior players.
2️⃣ Slot’s Squad Gamble Backfires
With the Merseyside derby looming, Slot rested several key players:
- Alisson, Van Dijk, Konaté, Robertson, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Gakpo—all left at home.
- He expected the reserves to get the job done, but it completely backfired.
- Liverpool’s quadruple hopes are now over.
3️⃣ More Injury Worries as Gomez Limps Off
- Joe Gomez’s return from injury lasted just 9 minutes.
- Re-injured his hamstring, adding to Liverpool’s defensive concerns.
- Isaac Mabaya made his senior debut as a replacement.
With Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté already overworked, this adds more pressure on Liverpool’s defensive depth.
Player Ratings
Plymouth (3-4-2-1)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Conor Hazard | ⭐ 7.3/10 |
| CB: Maksym Talovierov | ⭐ 7.5/10 |
| CB: Nikola Katic | ⭐ 7.8/10 (MOTM) |
| CB: Julio Pleguezuelo | ⭐ 7.1/10 |
| RM: Matthew Sorinola | ⭐ 6.8/10 |
| CM: Adam Randell | ⭐ 6.9/10 |
| CM: Darko Gyabi | ⭐ 7.3/10 |
| LM: Tymoteusz Puchacz | ⭐ 6.9/10 |
| AM: Callum Wright | ⭐ 7.4/10 |
| AM: Ryan Hardie | ⭐ 7.6/10 |
| ST: Mustapha Bundu | ⭐ 6.0/10 |
🔄 Key Subs:
- Victor Palsson (66′) – 6.2
- Malachi Boateng (72′) – 6.1
- Muhamed Tijani (72′) – 6.2
- Michael Obafemi (81′) – 6.0
Liverpool player ratings (4-3-3)
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| GK: Caoimhin Kelleher | ⭐ 6.2/10 |
| RB: James McConnell | ⭐ 7.6/10 |
| CB: Jarell Quansah | ⭐ 7.2/10 |
| CB: Joe Gomez | ⭐ 6.6/10 |
| LB: Kostas Tsimikas | ⭐ 7.8/10 |
| DM: Wataru Endo | ⭐ 7.4/10 |
| CM: Harvey Elliott | ⭐ 6.5/10 |
| CM: Trey Nyoni | ⭐ 6.9/10 |
| RW: Federico Chiesa | ⭐ 6.0/10 |
| ST: Diogo Jota | ⭐ 6.0/10 |
| LW: Luis Diaz | ⭐ 6.8/10 |
| SUB: Isaac Mabaya (10′ for Gomez) | ⭐ 5.9/10 |
| SUB: Darwin Nunez (58′ for Mabaya) | ⭐ 6.0/10 |
| SUB: Trent Kone-Doherty (76′ for Nyoni) | ⭐ 6.5/10 |
🟢 Player of the Match: Nikola Katic (Plymouth, 7.8/10)
Final Verdict
🔴 Liverpool: Huge setback, missed opportunity, FA Cup dream over.
🟢 Plymouth: Incredible defensive effort, historic win, FA Cup giant-killers.
❌ Liverpool’s reserve team failed to deliver, costing them silverware.
✅ Plymouth capitalized and deserved their victory.
Final Score: Plymouth 1-0 Liverpool
