City next for Conor

City next for Conor

12 February 2025

DOWNPATRICK goalkeeper Conor Hazard was the hero of the hour as Plymouth Argyle knocked Premier League titans Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Sunday.

The 26 year-old custodian made two late dramatic saves to set up a last 16 clash against Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester City. 

The Northern Ireland international kept a remarkable clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over the Anfield giants.

He said afterwards: “Liverpool are one of the best teams in the world and we knew we had to go out, do our best and see what happens.

“The gaffer set us up really well. We were set up just to try and keep them out as long as possible. When we got to half-time, we realised that it could actually happen.”

Plymouth have not had a lot to shout about this term, occupying last place in the English Championship, but having already knocked Premier League Brentford out of the cup, Hazard believes this latest win will provide confidence for everyone at the club.

“We realise now when we set ourselves up, get ourselves right and do our jobs, we can beat anybody,” he added.

“Going into the last three months of the season, it sets a great tone for us.”

Many would have expected the Merseyside club to run away with the match, having scored a total of 92 goals across all competitions so far.

After all, the eight-time FA Cup winners were not short of firepower, with elite names, such as Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and European Championship winner Federico Chiesa, in their starting line-up.

However, Hazard and his defence stood strong throughout the contest and when they snatched a shock lead through Ryan Hardie’s penalty an unlikely giant killing started to become a possibility.

Chasing the game and looking to protect their chances of an unprecedented quadruple, Liverpool turned to striker Darwin Nunez - a man they signed for upwards of £60 million in 2022 - from the bench.

Hazard may not have had have many worrying moments or the majority of the match, but as his side came under increased pressure in the latter stages of the second half, his workload drastically increased. 

He produced a heroic save to deny Jota in the 93rd minute, pushing the Portuguese international’s powerful, close-range volley away for a corner.

The former Celtic shot-stopper had more than earned his salt with that denial, but there were still six minutes of stoppage time remaining and his job was not quite finished. 

With a place in the last 16 of the world’s oldest football competition at stake, the Plymouth number one would face a late barrage of Liverpool attacks. 

The game entered its ninth and, supposedly, final minute of additional time and as a flood of balls were fired into the Argyle box, substitute Nunez got up and directed a point-blank header goal-wards, only for Hazard to produce an astonishing save to tip over the crossbar.

Still the time kept ticking away and with one final attack to defend, it came down to a battle of the ‘keepers.

A dangerous corner was played towards Liverpool ‘keeper Caoimhin Kelleher and when he jumped well to get a headed effort on goal, Hazard produced yet another miraculous save.

With that, the referee blew the final whistle, much to the jubilation – and relief – of Hazard and his teammates. 

Plymouth will turn their attentions back to their fight for league survival, before travelling to face juggernauts Man City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, March 1.