Every Premier League leader to exit the FA Cup to an EFL side | OneFootball

Liverpool were on the wrong end of a classic FA Cup upset on Sunday as the Reds lost 1-0 at Plymouth Argyle.

Arne Slot’s side have barely put a foot wrong this season but the Premier League leaders were bested at Home Park. Ryan Hardie’s penalty was the difference, as the Championship’s bottom club upset the top-flight table-toppers in Devon.

It’s just the fourth time a team top of the Premier League has been eliminated from the FA Cup by Football League opposition.

Every Premier League leader to exit the FA Cup to an EFL side

Cardiff City 2-1 LEEDS UNITED (2002)

Leeds United were the Premier League pacesetters when the 2001/02 FA Cup third round rolled around.

David O’Leary’s side took on second-tier Cardiff City at Ninian Park and took an early lead through Mark Viduka’s fierce hit. However, Cardiff hit back in an incident-packed clash in South Wales that was marred by ugly scenes as the two sets of fans clashed at full-time.

Graham Kavanagh’s brilliant free-kick brought Cardiff level on 26 minutes before Leeds had Alan Smith controversially sent off. The forward was adjudged to have elbowed Andy Legg two minutes before half-time and the visitors were reduced to 10 men.

Cardiff made their man advantage count late on. Scott Young scrambled in an 87th-minute winner at the second attempt after his header was blocked.

The defeat preceded a seven-game winless run in the Premier League for Leeds, who ended the campaign fifth in the table.

CHELSEA 2-4 Bradford City (2015)

Chelsea crashed out of the FA Cup to third-tier Bradford in 2015, as the top-flight leaders blew a two-goal lead to lose at Stamford Bridge. Jose Mourinho’s side boasted a perfect record of 10 wins from 10 home games in the Premier League heading into the clash but were stunned in the capital.

Chelsea appeared in complete control when Gary Cahill and Ramires scored in the first half before Jon Stead pulled one back for Bradford just before half-time. However, Chelsea crumbled against opposition ranked 49 places below them.

Three goals in the final 15 minutes from Filipe Morais, Andy Halliday and Mark Yeates sealed an unforgettable win for The Bantams.

Wigan 1-0 MANCHESTER CITY (2018)

Manchester City’s hopes of a quadruple came to an end in the FA Cup’s fifth round as Will Grigg fired Wigan Athletic to an upset win.

The Citizens lost just three times in 47 domestic games during the 2017/18 season, one that ended with a Premier League title and record-breaking 100-point haul. However, Pep Guardiola’s side saw their cup campaign end at Wigan, following Fabian Delph’s contentious first-half red card.

Despite having just 17% possession, Wigan – who memorably shocked Manchester City in the 2013 final – snatched a place in the sixth round when Grigg fired home 11 minutes from time.

Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Liverpool (2024)

Few gave Plymouth much hope heading into their FA Cup fourth-round tie with Liverpool. The visitors boast a comfortable lead at the top of the Premier League table and made light work of Champions League progress. Even with several big names left out, there was enough quality in the Reds’ ranks to navigate a tie with the Championship’s bottom club.

Or so Arne Slot thought.

A brilliant defensive display from The Pilgrims frustrated their illustrious visitors before Ryan Hardie dispatched the winner from the penalty spot. Harvey Elliott was penalised for a handball, with Hardie sending Caoimhin Kelleher the wrong way from the spot to seal the shock of this season’s competition.

Read – Plymouth stun Liverpool to end Reds’ quadruple dream

See more – Noughties Nines: Revisiting the greatest centre-forwards of the 2000s

Follow The Football Faithful on Social Media:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok