Premier League leader Liverpool suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat at the hands of second-tier struggler Plymouth in the FA Cup fourth round. This loss dashed Liverpool's hopes of a quadruple of major trophies, as they lead the Premier League by six points and have excelled in other competitions.
Ryan Hardie's 53rd-minute penalty secured the victory for Plymouth, a team currently at the bottom of the Championship. Despite fielding a rotated lineup, Liverpool featured established internationals but failed to break through Plymouth's resilient defense.
In a tense finish, Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard made crucial saves, including denying a header from Liverpool's Harvey Elliott in stoppage time. The decisive moment came when Elliott was penalized for a handball, allowing Hardie to convert the spot kick.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised Plymouth's performance and admitted his team struggled to create opportunities. Plymouth's victory marked a rare occasion where a non-Premier League team defeated the league leaders in the FA Cup.
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford made his Aston Villa debut in a 2-1 win over Tottenham, contributing to Villa's early lead alongside Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers. Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, showcased his talent but couldn't find the net in his first appearance.
Wolverhampton secured a 2-0 victory over Blackburn with quickfire goals from Joao Gomes and Matheus Cunha. Gomes opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, followed by Cunha's goal a minute later, sealing Wolves' progression in the competition.
These results added excitement to the FA Cup fourth round, with unexpected outcomes and standout performances from players across different teams.
