FA Cup | Fourth Round

Feb 9, 2025 at 3pm UK

Home Park

Plymouth vs Liverpool

Match preview

Just as they achieved in the third round of the FA Cup, Liverpool overcame a 1 - 0 deficit against Tottenham Hotspur in the semi - finals of the EFL Cup. They defeated a lackluster Tottenham Hotspur side, thus securing their latest journey to Wembley.

Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Virgil van Dijk all made significant contributions to overcome Ange Postecoglou's team. This victory earned Liverpool an exciting encounter with Newcastle United in next month's crucial showdown. Newcastle has been struggling to claim any silverware lately. The possibility of Liverpool achieving an unprecedented quadruple remains very much within reach.

Currently leading the Premier League and having already advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League, Liverpool typically performs well when Accrington visits for the third round of the FA Cup. Even though John Doolan's League Two team managed to hold their own for nearly half an hour.

While the visitors have been 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.

Now, the Reds are trying to avoid the same thing that just three other teams have experienced. If Liverpool lose on Sunday, they'll be the fourth team to start the day at the top of the Premier League table and still be knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower-league team.

The last top-flight team to suffer that embarrassment against Wigan Athletic was Manchester City in 2017-18, but Plymouth have had their fair share of surprise successes against Premier League opposition.

Lots of top-flight teams have conceded lots of goals to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium in the 2024-25 season, but to the Green Army's delight, Plymouth managed to keep Thomas Frank's men at arm's length before an 82nd-minute winner from former player Morgan Whittaker.

But there's been some big changes on and off the field since then. Whittaker's now playing for Middlesbrough, and the former coach Kevin Nancekivell, who was behind that third-round win, has stepped down to let Miron Muslic take the helm.

The 42-year-old didn't have any answers to Plymouth's Championship struggles, but last weekend's match against West Bromwich Albion ended in their first Championship victory since early November. Ryan Hardie's two goals from the bench put an end to Plymouth's 15-game winless run in the division.

That result may not have changed Plymouth's 24th place in the Championship table, but the Devon-based hosts are sure to be on top of the world before they face Liverpool again. Liverpool needed a replay to get past the Argyle in the 2016-17 FA Cup third round after a goalless draw at Anfield.

Team News

Trent Alexander - Arnold is yet to recover from the hamstring injury he sustained during the Bournemouth game last weekend. As a result, he will miss Sunday's fourth - round match. Additionally, young midfielder Tyler Morton is likely to be sidelined for "weeks" due to a shoulder issue.

Apart from these two, Slot's squad is in fine condition. However, the Dutch manager couldn't confirm whether Alexander - Arnold would be fit in time for the Merseyside derby on Wednesday. If Slot decides to be cautious with Conor Bradley, either Joe Gomez or Jarell Quansah could be called up to play at right - back.

Kostas Tsimikas, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa (who scored a great goal in the win over Accrington) will also be hoping to get promoted to the first XI at Home Park, as will Diogo Jota, who has scored or assisted in all three of his away games in the competition (not counting games at Wembley).

Meanwhile, Plymouth didn't have any fitness issues in their amazing comeback win over West Brom - Michael Baidoo's half-time change seemed to be a good call - but Kornel Szucs (muscle), Brendan Galloway (hip) and Joe Edwards (hamstring) are still out.

The hosts were busy on deadline day with the signing of former Hearts midfielder Malachi Boateng, who could be in action at Home Park on Sunday. Meanwhile, super sub Hardie did everything he could to get a spot in the starting lineup against the Premier League leaders.

Boateng's new teammates, Nikola Katic and Maksym Taloverov, are expected to be two of the three defenders in the Argyle back three, along with Julio Pleguezuelo, who used to play for Arsenal.

Possible starting lineup

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:

Hazard; Pleguezuelo, Katic, Taloverov; Sorinola, Houghton, Randell, Mumba; Wright, Baidoo; Hardie

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister; Chiesa, Elliott, Diaz; Jota