Liverpool humbled as Plymouth claim shock FA Cup scalp

LONDON: Liverpool suffered a humiliating FA Cup exit as Championship struggler Plymouth ended its quadruple bid with a stunning 1-0 win in the fourth round on Sunday.

Arne Slot’s decision to field a weakened Liverpool team came back to haunt him, with Ryan Hardie’s second-half penalty sealing Plymouth’s epic upset at Home Park.

Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson and Cody Gakpo were among the stars rested as Slot made 10 changes from the team that thrashed Tottenham 4-0 in the League Cup semifinal second leg on Thursday.

In a remarkably successful first season in charge of Liverpool, it was a rare blunder by the former Feyenoord boss.

Liverpool’s fourth defeat in all competitions this season was just the third time the Premier League leader had failed to score under Slot.

It was only the fourth time that a team top of the Premier League had been eliminated from the FA Cup by a lower division club.

Now Liverpool must shake off the embarrassment of its miserable trip to the west country in time for the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park against Everton on Wednesday.

There is little need for Liverpool to panic as a win over Everton would move it nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the title race.

The Reds are also through to the Champions League last 16 and will face Newcastle in the League Cup final in March. Agencies

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