Do you believe in miracles? Because for Plymouth Argyle fans, one just happened on Sunday as their squad eliminated powerhouse Liverpool from the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory.
Ryan Hardie’s 53rd-minute penalty after Harvey Elliott’s handball was all the offence Plymouth would need to hand Arne Slot’s team just their fourth loss this season across all competitions. Slot rested multiple players including Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo for the contest, and ultimately paid the price as his side couldn’t find the back of the net.
“The result is obvious, a big disappointment,” the Liverpool manager told reporters after the game. “Way we played, not a lot to be happy about. The boys kept fighting for 100 minutes. They kept fighting but credit to Plymouth, a good game-plan, worked hard and it was a clear penalty, correct decision.”
Plymouth Argyle sit dead last in the Championship level table in 2024-25 with a 5-10-15 record through 30 games played. Meanwhile Liverpool sit atop the Premier League table, 6 points clear of second place Arsenal with a 17-5-1 record, making the “worst vs. first” loss all the more shocking.
Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard was the hero of the day, producing a series of stunning saves including a header from Nunez and Kelleher in the dying minutes of the game. When the final whistle blew it was bedlam on the pitch as both players and fans alike couldn’t believe what they’d just witnessed.
Several betting models had Liverpool entering the contest with upwards of an 81% chance to win outright in regulation. Indeed, in the 139 year history of the club, you would be hard pressed to find a bigger upset than what took place Sunday.
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