Plymouth Argyle have produced one of the great FA Cup shocks, knocking out Premier League leaders Liverpool with a stunning 1-0 victory at Home Park.
The Championship strugglers defied the odds to eliminate Arne Slot’s side, ending Liverpool’s dreams of a quadruple and writing a famous new chapter in their club’s history.
The decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when Ryan Hardie coolly converted a penalty, sending the home crowd into raptures.
The spot-kick was awarded after Harvey Elliott handled the ball inside the box, an incident that summed up a frustrating night for the visitors.
Hardie, showing nerves of steel, placed his shot into the bottom left corner, sending goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way.
From that moment on, Plymouth’s resolute defence took centre stage.
Time and again, Liverpool threw everything at the home side in search of an equaliser, but they found no way past the inspired Conor Hazard in goal and a defensive trio of Maksym Talovierov, Nikola Katic, and Julio Pleguezuelo.
We exit the Emirates FA Cup. pic.twitter.com/aPzWDWPusT
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 9, 2025
Every block, clearance, and interception was met with a roar from the Home Park faithful as the underdogs held their ground.
Liverpool, despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession, struggled to break down their well-drilled opponents.
Darwin Nunez, introduced as a second-half substitute, came close with a late header, while Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz saw efforts blocked.
Hazard produced two stunning saves in stoppage time, first denying Jota’s volley bound for the top corner before stopping a last-gasp header from Kelleher, who had joined the attack in desperation.
The first half had been a scrappy affair, with Plymouth sticking to a clear game plan – disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm and play at their own pace. Both sides had chances, with McConnell forcing a diving save from Hazard, while Plymouth saw Hardie denied by Kelleher’s outstretched foot just before the break.
As the game wore on, however, the belief in the home side grew.
As the final whistle blew, the Plymouth players and fans erupted in celebration, knowing they had secured one of the most memorable wins in their club’s history.
The Pilgrims have now reached the FA Cup fifth round for just the fifth time, while Liverpool are left to reflect on a humbling exit at the hands of a side battling relegation in the Championship.
