Second Division side Plymouth Argyle knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup
Hardie scores the only goal of the game as Plymouth beat Liverpool again in 69 years
Plymouth makes FA Cup history
Europe’s biggest upset in 2025 has a name: it’s called – the now historic – Plymouth Argyle, bottom of the English Second Division. With a goal – also historic (pardon the redundancy) – by Hardie, the home team knocked out of the FA Cup Liverpool, leaders of the Champions League phase and first place by a landslide in the Premier League.
Despite 75% possession, a disfigured Liverpool – coach Arne Slot rested all the starters – was bureaucratic the whole time. In the classic wire-to-wire, the ball was passed from one side to the other, but it didn’t hurt the opponent. Slot may even regret that Joe Gomez, improvised at right-back, got injured early on, but that’s no excuse.
With a completely disjointed team, the team had enormous difficulties in the first half and shot four times, only one of them on target.
In the second half, even with the introduction of the important Darwin Nuñez in place of right-back Mabaya, who felt the pressure, Liverpool remained ineffective and suffered attacks from the hosts every now and then. In one of these, after a corner kick, Gyabi intelligently felt that the marking was coming with everything inside the area and kicked a ball backwards. Elliott fell for him and jumped with his arms open. The ball exploded off the midfielder’s left arm. Penalty.
Hardie, who had already been the hero of the victory against West Brownwich in the last round of the English Second Division, struck very well and gave Keheller no chance.
In the end, Slot, who was playing with four forwards and no right-back, even sent the defenders into the attacking half, but it was too late. The humiliation was complete for one side, and eternal glory for Plymouth Argyle! Hey, football!
Forever in history
Plymouth Argyle have beaten Liverpool again after 69 years. Their last win against the Reds had come on 11 February 1956, when they thrashed their powerful opponents 4-0. In the nearly 70 years since, the teams have met eight more times, with Liverpool winning five and drawing three.
Liverpool alive on three fronts
With the unexpected elimination, Liverpool still has a real chance of winning three major titles this season. They are the leaders of the Premier League with six points to spare (56) and one game in hand, are in the round of 16 of the Champions League and will also play the final of the English League Cup on March 16 against Newcastle.
