Plymouth Argyle vs. Liverpool: FA Cup | Fourth Round | Pre Match

Fresh from advancing to one domestic final, Liverpool endeavour to further their chances of FA Cup glory at Home Park on Sunday, where Plymouth Argyle provide a fourth-round test. Arne Slot's men surged to a routine 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley in their third-round tie, while their hosts pulled off one of the latest 'cupsets' away to Brentford last time out.

Repeating their 4-0 trick from the third round of the FA Cup, Liverpool ran into few obstacles overturning their 1-0 deficit against Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, slaughtering a sorry Tottenham Hotspur to book their latest trip to Wembley. Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk all contributed to the crushing of Ange Postecoglou's men, thus earning Liverpool an intriguing date with a silverware-starved Newcastle United in next month's showpiece, and the prospect of an unparalleled quadruple remains very much alive.

Leading the way in the Premier League and comfortably through to the last 16 of the Champions League, Liverpool also customarily took care of business when Accrington came to town for the third round of the FA Cup, even if John Doolan's League Two outfit held their own for almost half an hour. The determination and resilience shown by Accrington early in the match were commendable, yet Liverpool’s relentless attacking prowess ultimately proved insurmountable, underscoring the significant gulf in class between the two sides. The Merseyside club’s ability to navigate multiple competitions while maintaining a high level of performance speaks volumes about their squad depth and the tactical acumen of their manager, Arne Slot.

While the visitors have proven to be unbeatable on their own turf since the middle of September, only two of their last five away games have ended in victory; they previously only went winless in just two of their first 14 road matches of the 2024-25 season, losing none of them. This inconsistency away from Anfield presents an interesting dynamic as they prepare to face a Plymouth side that has already demonstrated its ability to trouble top-tier teams. Given the nature of cup competitions, where anything can happen on the day, Liverpool will need to ensure they approach this tie with the same level of focus and intensity that has characterized their performances throughout the campaign.

Now, the Reds seek to avoid a fate that has befallen just three teams before them; should Liverpool lose on Sunday, they would become only the fourth side starting the day at the top of the Premier League table to be knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower-league team. Fallen titans Manchester City were the last table-topping top-flight side to suffer that embarrassment against Wigan Athletic in 2017-18, but hosts Plymouth have recent history when it comes to surprise successes against Premier League opposition. Plymouth’s remarkable victory over Brentford in the previous round serves as a reminder that underdogs are more than capable of causing upsets in knockout football, particularly when playing in front of their passionate home supporters.

Many a top-flight team has conceded multiple goals to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium in the 2024-25 season, but to the euphoria of the Green Army, Plymouth managed to keep Thomas Frank's men at arm's length before an 82nd-minute winner from former flame Morgan Whittaker. That result not only bolstered their confidence but also underscored the tactical discipline and defensive resilience that will be essential if they are to stand any chance of halting Liverpool’s formidable attack.

However, significant change has occurred both on and off the field since that momentous occasion, as Whittaker is now donning the colours of Middlesbrough, while erstwhile coach Kevin Nancekivell - who masterminded that third-round win - has stepped aside for Miron Muslic. The 42-year-old initially had no solution to Plymouth's Championship plight, but last weekend's visit of West Bromwich Albion brought the Argyle's first Championship victory since early November, as Ryan Hardie's brace off the bench ended a torturous 15-game winless run in the division. That result may have had no effect on Plymouth's 24th-placed ranking in the Championship table, but the Devon-based hosts are sure to be on the highest of highs before reuniting with Liverpool, who needed a replay to get past the Argyle in the 2016-17 FA Cup third round after a goalless draw at Anfield.

Still nursing the hamstring injury he picked up at Bournemouth last weekend, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of Sunday's fourth-round match, while fledgling midfielder Tyler Morton is also set for "weeks" on the sidelines with a shoulder problem. Slot's squad is otherwise in good nick, but the Dutchman could not guarantee that Alexander-Arnold would be back for the Merseyside derby on Wednesday; as a result, Joe Gomez or Jarell Quansah could be drafted in at right-back if Slot errs on the side of caution with Conor Bradley. With Alexander-Arnold’s creativity and precise deliveries from deep set to be missed, Liverpool will need to find alternative ways to break down what is likely to be a well-organized Plymouth defense.

Kostas Tsimikas, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa - scorer of a fabulous fourth in the win over Accrington - will also expect to be promoted to the first XI at Home Park, as will Diogo Jota, who has either scored or assisted in all three of his official away matches in the competition (not counting games at Wembley). Jota’s sharp movement and clinical finishing will be vital in unlocking Plymouth’s backline, and his ability to link up with Salah and Gakpo will be crucial in ensuring Liverpool’s attacking fluidity remains intact.

Meanwhile, Plymouth suffered no new fitness woes in their terrific comeback win over West Brom - Michael Baidoo's half-time change appeared to be tactical - but Kornel Szucs (muscle), Brendan Galloway (hip) and Joe Edwards (hamstring) remain out. The hosts were active on deadline day with the signing of former Hearts midfielder Malachi Boateng, who could earn his Home Park baptism on Sunday, while super sub Hardie could not have done more for a start against the Premier League leaders either. Boateng’s fellow new arrivals Nikola Katic and Maksym Taloverov should comprise two-thirds of the Argyle back three, where Julio Pleguezuelo - once of Arsenal - also resides.

Plymouth’s defensive organization will be put to the test against a Liverpool side that boasts an array of attacking talent, and their ability to remain compact while limiting space between the lines will be key. However, as Brentford found out in the previous round, underestimating the resilience and tenacity of this Plymouth team could prove costly. With the magic of the FA Cup still alive and well, an enthralling encounter awaits at Home Park, where Liverpool’s pursuit of an unprecedented quadruple meets the determined ambitions of a Championship side eager to write another chapter in their underdog story.