There have been many huge upsets in the FA Cup over the years but Plymouth’s defeat of Liverpool is right up there with the biggest of them. In some regards it wasn’t such a huge shock. Afterall, there is only one division between the sides, the underdogs were at home and Liverpool named a relatively weak side, particularly in terms of the bench.
Either manager Arne Slot didn’t expect to need to call on the cavalry, or he simply wasn’t that bothered about the competition. Or perhaps he was simply very intent on giving his side the best chance possible of beating Everton in the Merseyside derby that comes just a few days after the FA Cup.
However, make no mistake, this was a huge, huge upset. Whilst Liverpool are a Premier League side and Plymouth a Championship one, the Reds are miles clear at the top of the former, and the Pilgrims are currently rock bottom of the latter. In effect that makes the gap two divisions, and also means that the two sides came into the clash with totally different levels of confidence, morale and form.
Good News for Plymouth Punters
Historic. Unprecedented. Argyle beat Liverpool.
Read the match report 👇
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) February 9, 2025
Liverpool were priced at odds as short as 2/11 with the bookies in the build-up to the game, and though their squad was a heavily rotated one, they still had a number of first-choice players and ones accustomed to being in the Premier League and Champions League match day group. Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsimikas, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher and Euros champion Federico Chiesa all started, whilst Darwin Nunez entered the fray before the hour mark.
The Reds really should have had enough, given they have lost just once in the league and won all seven of their opening games in the Champions League, going on to top the group. Looking at things from the other side of the equation, the Pilgrims were averaging less than a goal a game in the Championship, whilst conceding more than two. They had shipped a massive 63 goals in their 30 second-tier matches, eight more than any other side in the top four tiers of English football. And yet somehow they kept a clean sheet against Diaz, Jota and co. The magic of the FA Cup is alive!
Plymouth Deserved Their Win
Ultimately Liverpool just didn’t turn up for much of the game and Plymouth, spurred on by vocal home support, fought for everything and had more hunger and desire. Whilst Plymouth came into the game in 24th position in the Championship, they had managed to earn two good results heading into the tie. First they earned a 2-2 draw away at Sunderland, before beating West Brom at Home Park.
That would have given them some hope, with those teams fourth and fifth in the second tier, but it would be wrong to say their confidence would have been too high. They were, after all, still bottom of the table and, moreover, prior to their surprise draw in the North East they had been humbled 5-0 on home soil by Burnley. That clash, on the 22nd of January, would have still been fresh in their minds and many fans must have feared more of the same against perhaps the best team in the world at the moment.
Plymouth were given around a 7% chance of winning at kick-off, according to some stats sites. But they came out fighting and in the first half kept their shape and managed to restrict their illustrious, if much-changed, visitors to just three shots. All were from outside the area and only one was on target, as Plymouth defended in numbers and displayed an organisation that has been lacking for much of the season.
The Reds dominated possession, as one would expect, and in the second half the game opened up a little. The crucial, decisive moment came near the start of the second period when the hosts were awarded a penalty. Following a long throw the ball was flicked goalwards and Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott jumped towards it with his arms above his head. The referee had no hesitation in awarding the handball, even if the Liverpool player protested there was nothing he could do.
Ryan Hardie’s Goal
What a day ! @EmiratesFACup @Argyle pic.twitter.com/R7gfc4RZsm
— Ryan Hardie (@Ryanhardie9) February 10, 2025
Ryan Hardie stepped up and cooly drilled the ball home, sending the home crowd into raptures. Slot almost immediately brought on Nunez but it made little difference. His side continued to have lots of the ball but did little with it and Hardie could have made it two, hitting the post from close range.
As the game wore on Liverpool became more desperate and began to build up a bit of head of steam but Plymouth defended resolutely. The away side didn’t create too much but when they pressed the likes of Nikola Katic and Maxi Talovierov defended with their lives, celebrating each block and tackle as if it was a goal. In the end the stats showed that the home side had posted an xG of 1.29, with Liverpool managing just 1.00 and, somehow, the worst defence in England had kept the Premier League champions-elect at bay.
Plymouth boss Miron Muslic said “This is the biggest moment, so far, in my coaching career. No doubt”, also commenting that “Normally I’m very good in my words and very eloquent, but I’m a little bit speechless”. The Austrian-Bosnian replaced Wayne Rooney as Plymouth boss just a month before this game and there are signs he is making an impact. As an Evertonian, Rooney will have no doubt been cheering his former players on but this was a remarkable achievement for the new boss.
Plymouth Up Against Man City
Whilst the result meant that Liverpool’s premature talk of a possible quadruple ended before it really got going, it is Plymouth who march on into the fifth round. The league will be their top priority and they are only four points from safety. But the FA Cup can provide a little respite from the pressure of a relegation battle and certainly give the fans moments to enjoy.
The draw for the next round of the FA Cup took place on Monday evening and saw Muslic and his brave side given just about the hardest match possible: they head to the Etihad to play Manchester City. Having slayed Goliath once they must now do so again, and the trip to play Pep Guardiola’s stars will be a huge occasion for everyone connected with the Pilgrims. Their chances of progressing may be slim but this is the FA Cup and maybe there are more spells to be cast this season.