Liverpool Stunned as Plymouth Argyle Pull Off Historic FA Cup Upset
What a shocker! Liverpool, the Premier League leaders, have been dumped out of the FA Cup by second-tier Plymouth Argyle in one of the biggest surprises of the competition this season. A team sitting at the bottom of the Championship has just sent Arne Slot’s side packing with a 1-0 win at Home Park—an unforgettable moment for the Pilgrims and a bitter disappointment for the Reds.
Slot took a gamble by making 10 changes to his starting XI, giving 17-year-old Trey Nyoni his first start while big names like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Ryan Gravenberch were nowhere to be seen. Even with a formidable front three of Federico Chiesa, Luis DÃaz, and Diogo Jota, Liverpool just couldn’t get it together. They managed only four shots on target all game—far below their usual attacking standards.
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The moment that decided the match came in the second half when a penalty was awarded to Plymouth after Harvey Elliott handled the ball inside the box. Ryan Hardie stepped up and made no mistake, smashing the spot-kick past CaoimhÃn Kelleher to send the home fans into a frenzy. Despite Liverpool’s late push—including some great chances for Jota and Jarell Quansah—Plymouth’s keeper Conor Hazard stood tall, pulling off incredible saves to secure a historic win.
Statistically, the game was as shocking as the result. Liverpool had 75% possession but only managed an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.00, compared to Plymouth’s 1.23. That’s the lowest open-play xG for Liverpool under Slot, highlighting just how ineffective they were in attack. Even more incredible, Plymouth has the worst defensive record in the Championship this season—having conceded 63 goals in 30 matches—yet they managed to keep a clean sheet against one of Europe’s most dangerous teams.
With this defeat, Liverpool’s dream of a quadruple is officially over. The last time a lower-division side eliminated the Premier League’s top team in the FA Cup was in 2018 when Wigan stunned Manchester City. And for Liverpool, this is the first time since 1984 that they’ve been knocked out of the competition by lower-league opposition while sitting top of the table.
After the match, a gracious Arne Slot admitted, "Great game from Plymouth. They deserve all the credit. But we did not have a very good day. The result is the outcome." Now, Liverpool must regroup quickly as they head into a crucial Merseyside derby against Everton in the Premier League. With a title race still in full swing, the Reds cannot afford to let this setback derail their momentum.
But for Plymouth, this victory is the stuff of dreams. Against all odds, they’ve pulled off one of the biggest FA Cup upsets in years. What a night for the Pilgrims, and what a story for football!
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