Second-tier strugglers Plymouth Argyle pulled off a massive FA Cup upset as they beat Premier League leaders Liverpool 1-0 at Home Park at a raucous Home Park.
Some of Plymouth’s fans and players were in tears at the final whistle amid amazing scenes.
Arne Slot made plenty of changes to his regular starting lineup and Liverpool never really got going in Devon.
Miron Muslic’s Plymouth won the game thanks to Ryan Hardie’s penalty kick early in the second half, as he also hit the post and Plymouth were great value for a famous win as defenders Katic and Talovierov were excellent and goalkeeper Conor Hazard pulled off some great saves late on.
Plymouth are now in the FA Cup last 16 for the first time since 2007 and have beaten Premier League teams Brentford and Liverpool in back-to-back games. This win will give them huge belief in their quest to stay in the Championship this season.
This. This is what it's all about. ⚽️
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 9, 2025
An incredible day for @Argyle 💚#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/XlolzzoheA
Argyle pounce for incredible victory as Liverpool changes prove too much
You can understand why Arne Slot made the changes he did, but it backfired. Badly. Liverpool beat Tottenham in the League Cup semifinal second leg on Thursday and have a huge derby at Everton on Wednesday, so Slot didn’t even take Alisson, Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gakpo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai or Gravenberch to Plymouth. Liverpool’s captain for the day Joe Gomez came off early with an injury and that set the tone for a poor outing for Liverpool. Despite sitting bottom of the Championship table, Plymouth are on the up after Muslic arrived in January. He has since brought in Katic and Talovierov on January 31, who were outstanding at center back, while Randell and Gyabi were excellent in midfield and Wright and Hardie worked so hard in attack. Every single Plymouth player rose to the occasion to deliver a famous win, their first against Liverpool since 1956. But on the opposite end of the spectrum the likes of Elliott, Quansah, Diaz, Chiesa, Endo, Jota and Nunez all had games to forget. This was different to their recent Champions League defeat at PSV, where their passage to the last 16 had already been secured. This was a chance to go into the last 16 of the FA Cup as one of the favorites and then play the big boys in the latter rounds. But Liverpool’s back-up players were swallowed up in the magic of the FA Cup as Argyle’s superb defense were only really tested late on. Arne Slot will have thought he had enough quality in his Liverpool side to get past Plymouth but the experienced players he did select to make the trip to Devon didn’t show up. Many were saying Liverpool could do the quadruple before this game and this was a really poor way to give up their hopes of winning it all. Liverpool will probably still win the Premier League and go far in the Champions League but if they don’t people may point to this defeat at Plymouth as to where things started to unravel.
Plymouth vs Liverpool score: 1-0
Hardie 53'
Plymouth vs Liverpool live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Hazard makes another amazing save!
A free kick is whipped in and Quansah’s header from close range is going in but Hazard tips it over the bar.
CONOR HAZARD. HOW HAVE YOU SAVED THAT!?#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/FrKQ0G3gct
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 9, 2025
Tijani’s header blocked by Elliott... then Jota’s shot saved superbly by Hazard!
Late on Plymouth whip in a cross that Tijani heads towars goal but Elliott blocks. Then Liverpool come straight up the other end and Jota’s speculative shot was flying towards the top corner but Hazard saves brilliantly. What a stop.
That's an unbelievable save from @Argyle's Conor Hazard to deny Liverpool with minutes to go 😳#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/n1kYFjWTru
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 9, 2025
Nine minutes of stoppage time!
Groans around Home Park when nine minutes of stoppage time are announced. That seems like a lot. The Argyle fans can’t quite believe it.
McConnell blasts wide after confusion at the back
Katic heads it clear but goalkeeper Hazard came off his line. He’s caught out. Liverpool’s McConnell has a shot on goal which flies wide. That was a big chance late on for Liverpool. Katic and Hazard are having words. The former has been superb and headed away everything.
Nunez smashes wide
Moments after Darwin Nunez couldn’t get on the end of Diogo Jota’s cross, the Uruguayan striker gets in on the right but smashes his effort wide. The clock is ticking.
Quansah flicks it wide at the back post
Superb cross from Chiesa to the back post and Quansah is wrestling to get on the end of it but his flick towards goal sends the ball wide. That is as close as Liverpool have come in the second half. Plymouth are seven minutes plus stoppage time away from causing a HUGE upset.
Brilliant tackle from Sorinola!
A ball into the box finds Diaz but Sorinola comes from nowhere to make a brilliant last-ditch tackle. Another Plymouth defender threw themselves in there too. Huge roar from the home fans.
Just over 20 minutes to go...
Liverpool have brought on Darwin Nunez as Slot tries to spark his team into life. Plymouth’s fans are making plenty of noise to drive their team towards the finish line, while Liverpool’s fans are shown in the away end and there are a few yawns. That sums up Liverpool’s lackluster display so far.
Hardie hits the post, and what a stop that is from Kelleher!
A ball is knocked down from a free kick and Hardie takes a touch and his low shot is going in but Kelleher’s foot pushes it onto the post.
Penalty to Plymouth... and Hardie smashes home! — Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Liverpool
Oh. my. What a moment. Harvey Elliott has his arms in the air and Gyabi’s flick over his head hits Elliott on the hand and the ref points to the spot. Ryan Hardie steps up and smashes home as he sends Kelleher the wrong way.
WOW 😱
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) February 9, 2025
Ryan Hardie scores from the spot to put @Argyle ahead against Liverpool 🤯
Just look at the celebrations!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/FdHSr8tcCW
Wright’s curler deflected over
Brilliant start to the second half from Plymouth as boyhood Liverpool fan Callum Wright cuts in from the left and curls a shot towards goal. Endo deflects it over with his head for a Plymouth corner which comes to nothing. The home fans are generating quite the atmosphere. Arne Slot and his coaching staff look a bit concerned on the sidelines.
Half time: Plymouth 0-0 Liverpool
The teams head in at half time level and Plymouth’s fans are delighted with that performance. This youthful and much-changed Liverpool side haven’t got into any rhythm at all. Are we about to see a hue cupset?
McConnell’s deflected effort saved
Better from Liverpool. Youngster James McConnell has a pop from outside the box and it deflects towards goal and Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard gets down well to save and then Plymouth clear.
Liverpool have yet to create a chance
Well, this has been very disjointed from Liverpool. Plymouth are working so hard and have won the ball back in midfield on multiple occasions and are looking organized at the back. Liverpool have created nothing and we are over 30 minutes in.
Joe Gomez comes off with an injury
Not what Liverpool wanted to see early on. Captain Joe Gomez, who has only just come back from a hamstring injury, lasts just eight minutes and has to come off. Youngster Issac Mabaya, 20, is on for his Liverpool debut. He is playing at right back with Endo dropping into center back and McConnell going into central midfield.
Bright start from the hosts!
A few long balls up to Hardie are causing problems and the latest sets him free down the right. Hardie’s cross is a good one towards Wright but Kelleher comes off his line to collect. Just. It is noisy inside Home Park on a beautiful day.
Plymouth Argyle lineup
Hazard; Talovierov, Katic, Pleguezuelo; Sorinola, Randell, Gyabi, Puchacz; Bundu, Wright; Hardie
Liverpool lineup
Kelleher; McConnell, Quansah, Gomez, Tsimikas; Elliott, Endo, Nyoni; Chiesa, Jota, Diaz
Plymouth Argyle team news, focus
OUT: Brendan Galloway (hip), Kornel Szucs (muscular) | QUESTIONABLE: Joe Edwards (right back)
Liverpool team news, focus
QUESTIONABLE: Trent Alexander-Arnold (hamstring), Joe Gomez (thigh)
Plymouth vs Liverpool prediction
The Pilgrims have not manfactured goals in the Championship, as no player has more than three goals in league play this season (though a half-dozen including former PL striker Andre Gray have hit that figure). And Liverpool did play a midweek League Cup semifinal, so Slot will likely have a heavily-rotated side. Still.... Plymouth 0-2 Liverpool.
Plymouth vs Liverpool preview
The Reds beat Tottenham Hotspur at midweek to set up a mid-March meeting with Newcastle United in the League Cup Final, and they’re the pace-setters for the Premier League while also a favorite in the UEFA Champions. So while it’s early days in their FA Cup run, a quadruple is a possibility in Slot’s first year at the helm.
Enter the Pilgrims, who are on their second manager of an injury-ravaged season. Wayne Rooney started the season in charge of Plymouth but was removed on New Year’s Eve.
Austrian boss Miron Muslic took over on January 5. His first assignment was a surprising FA Cup upset of Premier League side Brentford, and the Pilgrims are 1W-2D-2L under his watch in the Championship. That’s an upgrade and Feb. 1 marked their first league win since November 5. Can they use Home Park to shock the country?
How to watch Plymouth vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Sunday
Venue: Home Park Stadium — Plymouth, Devon
TV Channel/Streaming: ESPN+
