Plymouth Argyle vs Liverpool LIVE: FA Cup result and reaction after Ryan Hardie penalty secures famous win
Plymouth 1-0 Liverpool: Ryan Hardie converted from the spot to give the Championship strugglers the victory
Plymouth Argyle battled to a famous FA Cup victory as a penalty from Ryan Hardie gave the Pilgrims a 1-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday.
Both sides contested a tense first half in which the visitors barely threatened and lost Joe Gomez to injury, and the hosts managed to pounce on their opportunity after the break when Harvey Elliott handled in the box, with Ryan Hardie calmly converting after a lengthy pause.
Miron Muslic’s side continued to have chances but it was Liverpool who piled on the late pressure, with the Reds coming close through James McConnell, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.
Plymouth ‘keeper Hazard was a late hero after two brilliant saves during the nine minutes of added time, the first from Jota’s half-volley and the second as he tipped over from a point-blank Nunez header.
And moments after keeping his side in the lead, the final whistle went on a game that may well become known as a type of FA Cup classic, as the Championship’s bottom club knocked out the side at the top of the Premier League.
Follow all the FA Cup action with our live blog below:
Liverpool’s quadruple hopes ended by Plymouth in stunning FA Cup upset
Liverpool’s hopes of a historic quadruple were stunningly ended by Plymouth Argyle in a monumental FA Cup upset.
Ryan Hardie’s penalty, after Harvey Elliott handled, was enough to clinch a famous win for the Championship strugglers.
After making nine changes, days after advancing to the Carabao Cup final, Arne Slot’s side have exited the FA Cup in just their fourth overall defeat of an excellent season.

Liverpool’s quadruple hopes ended by Plymouth in stunning FA Cup upset
Liverpool stunned by Plymouth as quadruple hopes ended by FA Cup shock
Plymouth produced a huge FA Cup upset as Premier League leaders Liverpool were knocked out by the bottom club in the Championship to end hopes of a historic quadruple.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot gambled with a weakened side in Devon and literally paid the penalty as Ryan Hardie’s second-half spot-kick gave Plymouth a famous 1-0 win and sent them into the fifth round of the competition.
It was only the fourth time that the team starting the day at the top of the Premier League has been eliminated from the FA Cup by a side from outside the top flight.

Liverpool stunned by Plymouth as quadruple hopes ended by FA Cup shock
FA Cup: Fourth round results so far
Here’s a quick rundown of the results so far in the fourth round, as well as some linked match reports.
Friday, 7 February
Saturday, 8 February
Leeds United 0-2 Millwall
Coventry 1-4 Ipswich
Preston 0-0 Wycombe (PNE win 4-2 on pens)
Stoke City 3-3 Cardiff (CAR win 4-3 on pens)
Southampton 0-1 Burnley
Wigan 1-2 Fulham
Sunday, 9 February
Blackburn 0-2 Wolves
Up next
Liverpool’s next match is a Merseyside derby on Wednesday, 12 February. That kicks off at 7.30pm.
Plymouth face Millwall at home on the same day in their next match, with that starting at 7.45pm.
Arne Slot reacts after Liverpool's shock FA Cup exit
Arne Slot said: “In the lead-up to this game, a lot of long balls, they were really aggressive, it’s not always easy to create chances. We expected them to play a better game than this. We have to get better.
“It hurts everyone, me, the players... We wanted to be in this competition as long as possible.
“From what I’ve seen all season, they kept fighting to the last second, it wasn’t a workrate problem, they worked really hard and couldn’t find chances, we have to keep doing the workrate and be a bit more creative.”
Arne Slot reacts after Liverpool's shock FA Cup exit
"We were not having a very good day, it's the outcome," Slot said.
“I can’t say that the boys didn’t fight, it was a fight. We didn’t create many chances. Where two teams have hardly any chances, no openings, it’s up to a moment, they deserved it. They played a really good game.
“They’re able to do better, but it’s a system, a way of playing, it’s hard to create chances.”
FULL-TIME! Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Liverpool



Slot says Plymouth deserved the win
Arne Slot is speaking to ITV now, and he praises Plymouth, saying it was a “great game” from them, with a “good game plan”.
“They deserve all the credit. We were not having a very good day,” he says.
“I don’t think I can say the boys didn’t fight. The game was decided by a penalty. In a game like this where two teams have hardly any chances it’s up to one moment, and that moment was for them. Like I said they deserved it.”
More from Muslic
Here’s more from Plymouth manager Miron Muslic, who says that his side were structured well.
“It’s easier to defend without gaps, then we just filled it with intensity and desire, heart, clearances, the saves in the end, you need this and a bit of luck, we had everything,” he tells ITV.
“100 percent, I’m convinced if you can structure, organise and bring passion, you’re almost there, we can collect points, it’s magical,” he adds.
“Enjoy, we’re part of Argyle history and we have to go again on Wednesday and we will.
“It’s a big day for all of us, we deserve all of this, if you can beat Liverpool, don’t get me wrong, you need luck, but we had it. We had it in the Home Park, something very important, to challenge and I think we’re ready.
“I don’t care who we play next, [Man Utd] are more than welcome!], he adds.
When is the FA Cup fifth round draw?
With that result, Plymouth and their fans will be looking towards tomorrow’s draw...
Top-flight leaders Liverpool suffered a stunning defeat against Plymouthon Sunday, with their quadruple hopes dashed in unexpected fashion. Aston Villa take on Tottenham on Sunday evening, with the fourth round wrapping up on Tuesday night (11 February) as League One side Exeter City face high flying Nottingham Forest.
The draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup will take place on Monday, 10 February at 7.10pm, with the ties themselves happening over the weekend of 1 March.




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