Liverpool faced a stunning FA Cup upset as Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle secured a historic 1-0 victory at Home Park, delivering a harsh lesson to manager Arne Slot in his first setback since taking charge at Anfield.
The Premier League leaders, who made 10 changes to their starting lineup, were undone by Ryan Hardie's 52nd-minute penalty after Harvey Elliott's handball. The defeat marked the first time Liverpool have been eliminated from the competition by a lower-league opponent while leading the table since January 1984 against Brighton.
Slot's decision to heavily rotate his squad proved costly, despite fielding an experienced attacking trio of Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, and Federico Chiesa. The gamble backfired as Plymouth, revitalized under new manager Miron Muslic, demonstrated the enduring magic of the FA Cup. The victory made Plymouth the first team outside the top flight to eliminate the Premier League leaders since Wigan's triumph over Manchester City in February 2018.
The atmosphere at Home Park was electric, with the 'Green Army' creating a deafening backdrop as Plymouth's defense, led by the heroic Nikola Katic – who lost a tooth in a collision with a teammate – and goalkeeper Conor Hazard, stood firm against late Liverpool pressure. Hazard produced outstanding saves to deny both Jota and substitute Darwin Nunez as the hosts held on through nine minutes of stoppage time.
Slot, maintaining dignity in defeat, acknowledged Plymouth's superiority: "Great game from Plymouth. Good gameplan. They deserve all credit for the performance. We were not having a very good day and a result like this is the outcome." He added, "It hurts everyone associated with Liverpool - fans, me and the players. We all wanted to be in the FA Cup and compete for as long as possible. It is a setback."
The defeat serves as a reminder that the FA Cup's traditions demand respect, even as Liverpool pursue other priorities including their Premier League title chase and upcoming Carabao Cup final. The absence of key players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and others from even the substitute's bench highlighted the risks of Slot's approach, ultimately resulting in one of the competition's most memorable upsets in recent years.
