Match ends, Plymouth Argyle 0, Liverpool 1.
Plymouth Argyle 0-1 Liverpool
- From the section Football
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Lucas Leiva scored his first goal in seven years to send Liverpool into the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of League Two Plymouth.
Jurgen Klopp's side had to make the 293-mile trip to Home Park after they were held to a frustrating goalless draw in the initial meeting between the two at Anfield.
However, Lucas ensured the long journey was not a wasted one when he headed home Philippe Coutinho's corner early in the first half.
The win should have been more comfortable for the Reds but Divock Origi's poor penalty was comfortably saved by home keeper Luke McCormick.
Plymouth, who are 66 places below Liverpool in the football pyramid, were not overawed by their Premier League opponents and came closest to equalising when Jake Jervis hit the post with a scissor kick midway through the second half.
Liverpool's reward for victory is a home tie against Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers on 28 January.
'It is that long?' Lucas ends wait
Brazilian Lucas has been at the club since 2007 but goals are not a regular feature of his game. The midfielder's strike was his first since a 4-1 win against Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League back in September 2010 - 2,316 days ago.
That was when Roy Hodgson was Liverpool boss and Ben Woodburn, Lucas' team-mate against Plymouth, was just 10 years old.
"It's that long? I scored last week in training," Lucas said after the game.
Despite the lengthy gap between goals, it was a neat finish by Lucas as he rose above the defence to power a header beyond McCormick's reach.
"He is the top scorer in training," joked Klopp. "I love this in football, everyone can cause problems."
Close game, but Klopp rewarded for keeping the faith
Klopp named the youngest-ever Liverpool line-up in the club's history for the first meeting between these two sides - a decision that came under some criticism as they struggled to break down their determined opponents.
The draw added another fixture to an already congested list for the Reds and, after a tough encounter with Manchester United in the Premier League at the weekend, Klopp gave the majority of those who played in the first game a chance to finish the job.
It wasn't a memorable Liverpool performance as they struggled to put the game out of Plymouth's reach. Origi had the best chance to do just that when Yann Songo'o brought down Alberto Moreno inside the box, but the Belgian, who has not scored since 14 December, hit an unconvincing spot-kick too close to McCormick.
Proud Plymouth switch focus to promotion
Plymouth are fighting for promotion from League Two. They are currently second in the division and produced a hugely impressive defensive display at Anfield to earn the replay.
As a consequence, there was an air of expectation in the build-up to the game that the Pilgrims could produce an upset, with excitement for the fixture high throughout the city.
Tickets quickly sold out as fans queued for hours to ensure they had the chance to be part of a potentially famous night for the club, while several iconic buildings around Plymouth were illuminated in green and white colours to show their support.
During the game, Plymouth fans produced a party atmosphere even after Lucas' goal and their players responded by creating one or two chances to equalise.
Alberto Moreno struggled to deal with the combination of the impressive Oscar Threlkeld and Jervis down Liverpool's left. And it was from there that the hosts produced their best chance in the first half.
Threlkeld got into space to cross low into the box, only for a well-timed Alexander-Arnold tackle to deny Paul Garita the chance to equalise from close range.
Jervis then shaved the outside of the post as Plymouth pressed in the second half, and although it was not to be in the end, the club are set to earn more than £1m from the two games with Liverpool. That could provide a significant boost to their bid for promotion.
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Man of the match - Trent Alexander-Arnold
'We didn't want to be embarrassed'
Klopp was relieved to avoid an upset and praised his young players for stepping up to the challenge.
"You do not want to feel the embarrassment of losing a game like this," he said.
"I'm happy about their potential and we will do everything we can to let it grow. But they have a big job to do too."
Plymouth manager Derek Adams said his players could be proud of their performance.
"We took the game to Liverpool at times," he said.
"We went a wee bit direct towards the end and overall I thought it was a very good performance from us. Over the two games we've lost by one goal to Liverpool."
Line-ups
Plymouth
- 23McCormick
- 18Threlkeld
- 4Songo'oBooked at 86mins
- 15Bradley
- 16PurringtonBooked at 90mins
- 24Fox
- 14Jervis
- 11DonaldsonSubstituted forTannerat 67'minutes
- 10Carey
- 8SlewSubstituted forBulvitisat 80'minutes
- 26GaritaSubstituted forRooneyat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Sawyer
- 5Bulvitis
- 20Rooney
- 21Dorel
- 27Tanner
- 30Fletcher
- 32Rose
Liverpool
- 1Karius
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 12GomezBooked at 25mins
- 21Leiva
- 18Moreno
- 10CoutinhoSubstituted forWilsonat 65'minutes
- 35Stewart
- 53EjariaBooked at 51mins
- 15SturridgeSubstituted forOjoat 76'minutesBooked at 84mins
- 27Origi
- 58Woodburn
Substitutes
- 17Klavan
- 22Mignolet
- 49Williams
- 54Ojo
- 56Randall
- 59Wilson
- 61Neves Alves
- Referee:
- Graham Scott
- Attendance:
- 17,048
Match Stats
Home TeamPlymouthAway TeamLiverpool
- Possession
- Home32%
- Away68%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away17
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Plymouth Argyle 0, Liverpool 1.
Attempt blocked. Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Booking
Ben Purrington (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ben Woodburn (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ben Purrington (Plymouth Argyle).
Offside, Plymouth Argyle. Luke McCormick tries a through ball, but Nauris Bulvitis is caught offside.
Offside, Plymouth Argyle. Louis Rooney tries a through ball, but Craig Tanner is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Divock Origi (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Alberto Moreno.
Harry Wilson (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ben Purrington (Plymouth Argyle).
Penalty saved! Divock Origi (Liverpool) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.
Booking
Yann Songo'o (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Penalty Liverpool. Alberto Moreno draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by Yann Songo'o (Plymouth Argyle) after a foul in the penalty area.
Attempt blocked. Sheyi Ojo (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Harry Wilson.
Attempt missed. Harry Wilson (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ben Woodburn.
Booking
Sheyi Ojo (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card.
Sheyi Ojo (Liverpool) has gone down, but that's a dive.
Foul by Divock Origi (Liverpool).
Graham Carey (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Nauris Bulvitis replaces Jordan Slew.
Joseph Gomez (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Craig Tanner (Plymouth Argyle).
Foul by Sheyi Ojo (Liverpool).
Jake Jervis (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Sheyi Ojo replaces Daniel Sturridge.
Kevin Stewart (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Louis Rooney (Plymouth Argyle).
Jake Jervis (Plymouth Argyle) hits the left post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Sonny Bradley with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Foul by Kevin Stewart (Liverpool).
Jordan Slew (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Loris Karius.
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Louis Rooney replaces Paul Garita.
Foul by Joseph Gomez (Liverpool).
Paul Garita (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Divock Origi.
Foul by Harry Wilson (Liverpool).
Oscar Threlkeld (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Craig Tanner replaces Ryan Donaldson.
