Liverpool suffer shock FA Cup defeat to Plymouth 1-0

A much-changed Liverpool were dumped out of the FA Cup by struggling second-tier side Plymouth Argyle, who pulled off a stunning 1-0 fourth round win at Home Park on Sunday that put an end to the visitors' hopes of a quadruple title accolade.

The hosts took the lead in the 53rd minute after they were awarded a penalty for a handball by midfielder Harvey Elliott and Ryan Hardie stepped up to send Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way.

"We all came here today with a dream and we have done it. I don't know what to say," forward Hardie told ITV. "There is obviously a lot of pressure. It is about picking your side, and I committed to it," he said when asked about his penalty.

Premier League leaders Liverpool were bereft of ideas and had just one shot on target in the opening half, with Plymouth keeper Conor Hazard making a diving save in the 36th minute to keep out James McConnell's long-range shot.

Ahead of the Merseyside derby against Everton on Wednesday, Liverpool made wholesale changes with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister among the big names rested and left at home.

Liverpool, who were also forced into an early change when defender Joe Gomez went down injured, failed to create many chances in a scrappy encounter as Plymouth, who sit bottom of the second-tier Championship, gradually grew in confidence.

Arne Slot's side switched gears after going down but Hazard proved to be the hero for Plymouth as the Northern Irishman brilliantly kept out Diogo Jota's volley in added time, as well as a header from Darwin Nunez.

"At the end of the day, it is my job. So I am delighted with that," Hazard said when asked about the Jota save.

With Liverpool top of the Premier League, having strolled into the UEFA Champions League's last 16 and reached the League Cup final, some fans and pundits had begun to speculate about a potential quadruple.

Plymouth's remarkable victory, however, brought a shuddering halt to talk of a clean sweep of silverware for Slot's side, who had only lost three games all season, prior to Sunday.