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E-mail Xinhua, February 10, 2025
Championship struggler Plymouth produced the biggest shock of the FA Cup this season, knocking Premier League leader Liverpool out of the tournament with a 1-0 win.
Liverpool coach Arne Slot made a host of changes from the team that had beaten Tottenham 4-0 on Thursday to book a place in the Carabao Cup final, and also rested Mohamed Salah, leading to a disjointed performance.
The game's only goal came 10 minutes into the second half when Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliot handled a corner and Ryan Hardie kept his nerve to score the resultant penalty.
Hardie hit the post minutes later before Liverpool piled on the pressure in the closing minutes, with Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard making several big blocks, including one to deny Darwin Nunez with virtually the last kick of the game.
"The lads are fantastic. It's a big moment. I think I will only realize that when I leave the stadium tonight, when I get back to my apartment for a quiet moment," commented Plymouth head coach Miron Muslic afterwards.
A quickfire first-half double from Joao Gomes and Matheus Cunha saw Wolverhampton Wanderers win 2-0 away to Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Cunha showed why Wolves were so relieved to see him sign a new contract in January, as the Brazilian had a hand in Gomes' opener on 33 minutes, and then provided a neat finish of his own just 37 seconds later.
Tottenham Hotspur ended a miserable week with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, ending their interest in the FA Cup just three days after Liverpool had humiliated them in the Carabao Cup semifinal.
Jacob Ramsey put Villa ahead in the first minute with a shot which new Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky should have dealt with, and Morgan Rogers doubled the lead in the 64th minute when he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area.
The only good news for Ange Postecoglou's side was a late consolation goal from new signing Mathys Tel, who netted a classy volley, but it was too little, too late for Spurs.
On Saturday, Manchester City, Brighton, Ipswich Town, Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Fulham, Millwall, Burnley, Preston and Cardiff City all booked their places in the fifth round.
