Championship's bottom side Plymouth shock Liverpool to reach FA Cup fifth round
Liverpool experienced a disappointing exit from the FA Cup as Championship side Plymouth delivered a surprising 1-0 defeat, effectively ending their quest for a quadruple in the fourth round on Sunday.
Arne Slot's choice to field a significantly altered Liverpool lineup proved detrimental, with Ryan Hardie's penalty in the second half securing Plymouth's remarkable victory at Home Park.
Key players such as Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson, and Cody Gakpo were rested, as Slot implemented 10 changes from the squad that convincingly defeated Tottenham 4-0 in the League Cup semi-final just days prior.
Despite a highly successful inaugural season at the helm of Liverpool, this marked a rare misstep for the former Feyenoord manager.
This defeat represented Liverpool's fourth loss across all competitions this season and was only the third occasion in which the Premier League leaders failed to score under Slot's management.
It was also notable as the fourth instance in which a team at the top of the Premier League was eliminated from the FA Cup by a club from a lower division.
Liverpool must now recover from the disappointment of their lackluster performance in the west country as they prepare for the upcoming Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
There is no immediate cause for concern for Liverpool, as a victory over Everton would extend their lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Arsenal in the title race.
Additionally, the Reds have advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League and are set to compete against Newcastle in the League Cup final in March.
For Argyle manager Miron Muslic, orchestrating a historic win over Liverpool while striving to elevate Plymouth from the bottom of the Championship was a significant achievement. Muslic, who fled war-torn Bosnia as a child, was appointed to replace the dismissed Wayne Rooney in January after his own harrowing escape from Bihac, which was besieged by Serbian forces in 1992.
Plymouth had previously triumphed over Premier League team Brentford in the third round, but their recent victory against West Brom marked their first league win since November.
Given the context, Plymouth's remarkable display will be remembered as one of the most significant upsets in FA Cup history.
Beneath a wintry sun along the Devon coast, Liverpool's weakened squad faced further challenges when Joe Gomez exited the match due to injury early in the first half.
Liverpool found it difficult to gain any rhythm as a determined Plymouth side worked diligently to thwart their advances.
It was not until the 36th minute that Liverpool managed to register a shot on target, with James McConnell's long-range effort being saved by Conor Hazard.
Slot's frustrated demeanor encapsulated Liverpool's sluggishness, particularly before Darko Gyabi's overhead kick was deflected by Harvey Elliott's arm in the 54th minute.
This incident resulted in a clear penalty, which Hardie converted with poise, sending Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way from the penalty spot.
In stoppage time, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were thwarted by impressive saves from Hazard, as Home Park erupted in celebration of a remarkable outcome.
SportsLigue