Sunday, February 9, 2025

FA Cup Fourth Round - Plymouth Argyle 1:0 Liverpool Match Reports

Liverpool exited the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday as they were beaten 1-0 by Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

The hosts netted the only goal of the game in the second half via a penalty through striker Ryan Hardie.

Harvey Elliott was penalised for a handball in his own box, with the Plymouth striker converting from 12 yards out to settle the tie in Devon.

Team news

Joe Gomez returned as Arne Slot made multiple changes for the encounter with the Championship club.

Diogo Jota was also included in the XI, with only goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher retaining a place in the team.

First half

The hosts started on the front foot inside the first minute as Hardie latched onto a forward header to drive at goal, though Gomez was quickly across to block the effort.

Trey Nyoni returned fire at the opposite end in quick fashion, seeing the Plymouth backline get in front of his own effort.

In minute 10 the Reds were forced into an early substitution, Gomez having to bring his return to action to a close early due to injury, with Isaac Mabaya his replacement.

Darko Gyabi also saw a low drilled shot from a corner blocked in another opening for the hosts a short while later, though Liverpool were otherwise largely unchallenged in their own final third.

Both sides were struggling to take real control of the ball and the game as they battled for possession for much of the first half hour.

Plymouth, though, saw appeals for a penalty waved away as Tsimikas tangled with Mustapha Bundu in the area with the striker advancing.

Ahead of the interval, meanwhile, James McConnell had Liverpool’s best opening of the game saved by goalkeeper Conor Hazard.

The midfielder’s shot deflected off Gyabi and was heading into the bottom corner until the stopper’s intervention down to his left.

In the last of the action, Gyabi himself fired a shot over the bar from inside the box in what was a competitive opening 45 minutes.

Second half

Plymouth started the second period on top with Callum Wright seeing a cutback and shot blocked over the bar by Wataru Endo.

Seven minutes after the interval, however, the home side had a lead from the penalty spot via striker Hardie.

Gyabi hooked the ball over his head in the box with the touch hitting the raised arm of Harvey Elliott, leaving Plymouth’s No.9 to convert from 12 yards out as he sent Kelleher the wrong way.

On the hour in response Darwin Nunez was introduced from the bench, replacing earlier substitute Mabaya.

Plymouth again went close to adding to the scoreline, Hardie proving the threat once more, seeing a shot strike the outside of the post after a free kick was lifted into the area from deep.

Liverpool pushed for a response, Federico Chiesa delivering low into the box from the right flank to find Luis Diaz, though the winger was unable to connect fully with a sweeping shot as the defence retreated.

In the closing stages, McConnell fired wide of the goal at a good opening for the Reds, with goalkeeper Hazard having come to gather a ball forward.

The hosts stopper failed to collect with the Liverpool midfielder taking the ball down before shooting wide of the post from distance.

In added time, Jota forced a strong save from the goalkeeper, the No.20 volleying on the turn from the edge of the box, with his shot heading for the top corner of the net.

And in the final seconds of the game, Nunez again worked Hazard, as he tipped a close range header over the bar after McConnell put the ball back across goal from a dead ball.

It was as close as the Reds would come to levelling the contest, with the hosts earning passage into the fifth round of the competition.


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