Liverpool’s FA Cup exit on Sunday was not just a shock — it was a disaster. A side sitting at the bottom of the Championship outworked, outfought and ultimately outplayed them.
Plymouth Argyle delivered one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s modern history.
Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty was enough to seal it. Liverpool had 40 minutes to respond but never looked like breaking down the home side.
Even when the visitors piled on the pressure in stoppage time, Plymouth held firm. A roaring Home Park crowd carried them over the line. The result was no fluke.
Liverpool lacked cohesion, rhythm and any real attacking threat. Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota barely troubled the defence. Federico Chiesa looked lost. Darwin Nunez made little impact off the bench.
Plymouth were disciplined, well-drilled and fully deserved their win.
Arne Slot’s team selection will come under scrutiny. He rested key players but still fielded a side that should have been good enough.
However, Liverpool played like a group of strangers. The best teams thrive on understanding, and Liverpool had none. Slot defended his decision.
“These players need game time to be ready for the last three months of the season,” he said.
That argument might hold weight in other competitions, but not here. This was the FA Cup, one of Liverpool’s most realistic chances of silverware. Now it is gone.
The implications could be severe. This result will shake confidence at the worst possible time. The Premier League title race is tight, and their rivals will see this as a sign of vulnerability.
Liverpool’s depth, so often praised, suddenly looks questionable.
Tactically, Plymouth exposed a major flaw. Liverpool struggled against their long-ball approach, just as they did against Manchester United earlier in the season.
Slot admitted it was difficult for his squad. But that excuse will not satisfy fans who expected much better.
Isaac Mabaya’s debut was a personal milestone, but it ended in frustration. He was substituted after 58 minutes, having already come on as an early replacement.
Slot explained the decision, citing his yellow card and the need for an attacking change. But it summed up Liverpool’s night – plans undone, adjustments failing, momentum lost.
There were late chances. James McConnell, Jota and Nunez all had opportunities, but Plymouth’s defence held firm. Conor Hazard saved brilliantly at the death. Plymouth had earned their luck.
Liverpool must move on quickly. The fixtures keep coming, and Everton await in midweek. But this defeat lingers.
It is not just an embarrassing result – it is a warning. If Liverpool do not improve, their season could fall apart.
