Rangers old boys shock Liverpool as Ryan Hardie nets Plymouth winner and Katic the hero in FA Cup thriller

After being linked with a return to Rangers in January, Nikola Katic was a rock for Argyle - whilst an Ibrox old boy netted the winner

Fraser Clarke Sport Trends Writer

17:11, 09 Feb 2025

Ryan Hardie netted the winner as Plymouth shocked Premier League Liverpool(Image: Offside via Getty Images)

Former Rangers youngster Ryan Hardie scored the winner as Plymouth shocked Liverpool in the FA Cup.

The 27-year-old, who played 17 times scoring twice during his time as a youngster at Ibrox, netted a 53rd minute penalty to dump Arne Slot's high-flying Premier League giants out of the FA Cup - in the biggest upset of the fourth round. With three other former SPFL stars also featuring for Argyle as the Championship strugglers as they pulled off a stunning upset.

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Whilst Hardie's winner grabbed the headlines, Croatian defender Nikola Katic - heavily linked with a return to Rangers in January - was a rock at the back, earning plaudits from former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon and being named man of the match. Commentating on the match for ITV Dixon said: "How many times have we said his name, Katic, he's been absolutely everywhere all game. So brave. His head is like a magnet to the ball."

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Ex-Celtic stopper Conor Hazard also pulled off two stunning late saves. And it was quite a debut for former Hearts, Dundee and Queen's Park midfielder Malachi Boateng who came off the bench in the second-half to make his debut for Argyle. However it was Katic who summed up a sensational Argyle showing.

Maksym Talovierov(L) and Nikola Katic(R) of Plymouth Argyle FC

Nikola Katic was a rock at the back for Plymouth(Image: Plymouth Argyle via Getty Images)

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Speaking on ITV after the game Dixon was asked for his man of the match and said: "I'm going to give it to Katic, he's headed everything, kicked everything and won his team a place in the next round of the FA Cup." Robbie Fowler added: "To a man Plymouth worked so hard, that's how you win football games. You stick together and Plymouth did that from the first minute until the last. Fair play to them."

Matchwinner Hardie, who made his debut for Rangers in 2014 and spent time on loan at Raith Rovers, St Mirren and Livingston, told ITV: "We all came today with a dream to get into the next round and we've done it. I don't know what else to say. Standing over the penalty all I'm thinking is kick the ball in the net and it's 1-0. There's a lot of pressure, but it's all about picking your side. I'd practiced it a few days before. I asked my son what I thought the score would be, and he said 10-0. So I'll take one!"