Liverpool and Spurs crash out FA Cup as tournament opens up

The 2024-2025 FA Cup continues to deliver shock results as both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool were eliminated in the fourth round. Aston Villa edged past Spurs in a thrilling encounter, while Liverpool, opting for a weakened squad, suffered a stunning defeat against Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle.

Aston Villa Eliminates Tottenham Hotspur

Aston Villa secured a spot in the FA Cup’s last 16 after defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1. Jacob Ramsey opened the scoring within the first minute, and Morgan Rogers doubled the lead in the second half. A late goal from Mathys Tel was not enough for Spurs to force a comeback. Villa’s Donyell Malen played a crucial role in the opening goal, setting up Ramsey with a precise pass that the midfielder struck past goalkeeper Antonín Kinský. However, the home side suffered a setback when Ezri Konsa was forced off with an injury, making way for Lamare Bogarde.

The second goal came after Malen’s cross led to a defensive error from Pedro Porro, leaving Rogers with a simple finish. Shortly after, manager Unai Emery introduced Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio for their debuts. Asensio nearly made an instant impact, narrowly missing a chance to score. Spurs, missing key defender Micky van de Ven, found a late response through Tel, who converted a Dejan Kulusevski cross. However, it was too little too late, as Villa secured their place in the next round.

Liverpool’s B-team crashes out against Plymouth Argyle

Arne Slot’s decision to field a heavily rotated squad backfired as Liverpool suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle. The Premier League leaders were undone by a second-half penalty from Ryan Hardie, sending the Championship’s bottom club into the next round. Slot left out several key players, including Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Despite having Diogo Jota, Luis Díaz, and Federico Chiesa in attack, Liverpool struggled to break down Plymouth’s defense.

The decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when a long throw-in led to a handball from Harvey Elliott inside the box. Hardie confidently converted the resulting penalty past Caoimhin Kelleher. Liverpool pressed for an equalizer and saw 11 minutes of added time, but a crucial save from Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard in the 99th minute sealed the upset.

FA Cup Opens Up as Major Clubs Fall

With Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, and now Liverpool out of the competition, the FA Cup is wide open. Some of the biggest clubs remaining include:

• Manchester City
• Newcastle United
• Manchester United
• Bournemouth
• Brighton & Hove Albion
• Aston Villa
• Fulham

With so many Premier League giants eliminated, this year’s FA Cup could see an unexpected winner. The upcoming draw will be crucial in determining the path to the final at Wembley for the remaining teams, as the tournament continues to provide excitement and surprises.