Liverpool's quadruple dream ends with stunning FA Cup loss to Plymouth
Liverpool's quadruple hopes ended in dramatic fashion Sunday.
The Premier League leaders were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round after losing 1-0 to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle.
A second-half penalty by Ryan Hardie proved decisive in helping the last-place Championship club pull off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament.
Arne Slot left several of Liverpool's stars off the squad for Sunday's away trip, including Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, making 10 changes from the team that beat Tottenham in the League Cup semifinals earlier in the week.
"We were not having a very good day. A result like this is the outcome," said Slot, who suffered just his fourth defeat since replacing Jurgen Klopp on the Liverpool bench. "It hurts everyone that is involved with Liverpool - fans, me players. We were all wanting to be in this competition for as long as possible and when you go out in the second possible game, that's a setback."
Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, and Federico Chiesa struggled to create chances in attack, while Liverpool suffered an early defensive blow in the first half with the loss of Joe Gomez to injury.
The two sides were level coming out of halftime before Plymouth were awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute after Harvey Elliott's raised arm made contact with the ball.
Hardie's penalty conversion triggered a sense of urgency among the visitors.
Liverpool pressed for an equalizer late but were denied by a pair of impressive saves by Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard late in the contest.
Hazard denied Jota's volley from outside the box with a diving effort before pulling off an even more impressive save in injury time when he tipped Darwin Nunez's close-range header over the crossbar.
Plymouth went on to hold onto their lead to secure the win for Miron Muslic, who recently replaced Wayne Rooney as coach of the Pilgrims.
"I'm speechless, and normally they tell me I'm eloquent! It's a big moment," Muslic said. "It's a magical day for us. I told the lads in the locker room to enjoy it."
Meanwhile, Liverpool will now shift focus to their efforts in the Premier League, Champions League, and the League Cup final next month against Newcastle United.
"I can't say the boys didn't fight, both teams barely created a chance and then it was a penalty. In a game like this, it is up to one moment. That moment was for them and they deserve it," Slot added.