Plymouth Vs Liverpool

Fresh from securing a place in one domestic final, Liverpool continue their pursuit of FA Cup success as they visit Home Park on Sunday, where Plymouth Argyle stands as their fourth-round challenge.

Under the guidance of Arne Slot, Liverpool breezed past Accrington Stanley with a dominant 4-0 victory in the third round. Meanwhile, Plymouth pulled off one of the tournament's latest upsets, stunning Brentford on their own turf to earn their spot in the fourth round.

Liverpool showcased their attacking prowess once again in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, overturning a 1-0 deficit against Tottenham Hotspur in emphatic fashion. The Reds dismantled their North London opponents with a comprehensive 4-0 triumph, courtesy of goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Virgil van Dijk. This resounding victory secured their place in the final, where they will face Newcastle United, a club eager to end their silverware drought. With this result, Liverpool remains on course for an unprecedented quadruple, maintaining their dominance across multiple competitions.

Sitting atop the Premier League table and having comfortably progressed to the Champions League's last 16, Liverpool have maintained their relentless pursuit of silverware. Their FA Cup campaign also began in commanding fashion, as they efficiently dispatched Accrington Stanley in the third round. Although the League Two side held firm for the opening 30 minutes, they ultimately succumbed to the superior quality of their illustrious opponents.

Despite their imposing form at Anfield, Liverpool’s away performances have been less convincing in recent weeks. While they have remained unbeaten at home since mid-September, only two of their last five away fixtures have ended in victory. This recent dip in their traveling fortunes contrasts sharply with their earlier away record, which saw them avoid defeat in their first 14 road games of the 2024-25 campaign.

As they prepare for their trip to Plymouth, Liverpool will aim to avoid becoming only the fourth Premier League leaders to be eliminated from the FA Cup by a lower-division team. The last top-flight club to suffer such an embarrassment was Manchester City in 2017-18, when they were famously dumped out of the competition by Wigan Athletic.

While Liverpool seeks to prevent a similar fate, Plymouth Argyle will be eager to add another chapter to their giant-killing history. The Championship side demonstrated their ability to topple Premier League opposition in the previous round when they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Brentford. Many teams have struggled to contain Brentford’s attacking threat at the Gtech Community Stadium this season, yet Plymouth’s resolute defensive display kept Thomas Frank’s side at bay. A late strike from former Plymouth star Morgan Whittaker completed the upset and sent the Green Army into jubilation.

However, much has changed at Plymouth since that memorable triumph. Whittaker has since moved on to Middlesbrough, while caretaker boss Kevin Nancekivell, who masterminded the victory over Brentford, has stepped aside for Miron Muslic. The new head coach initially struggled to arrest Plymouth’s poor Championship form, but last weekend’s victory over West Bromwich Albion provided a much-needed boost. Substitute Ryan Hardie delivered a match-winning brace, securing Plymouth’s first league win since early November and ending a torrid 15-game winless streak in the division.

Despite that positive result, Plymouth remains rooted to the bottom of the Championship table. Nevertheless, the morale-boosting win over West Bromwich will serve as vital preparation for their FA Cup showdown with Liverpool. Memories of their last FA Cup encounter with the Reds will also provide inspiration, as Plymouth famously held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield in the 2016-17 third round before eventually succumbing in the replay.

While Plymouth faces an uphill battle against the formidable Liverpool, they will look to capitalize on any potential vulnerabilities in the visitors’ away form. With nothing to lose and the backing of a passionate home crowd, the Championship underdogs will aim to defy the odds once again and add another famous scalp to their FA Cup history.