Some of the biggest FA Cup shocks of the last 20 years

With the FA Cup third round fast approaching in January, attention naturally turns to the possibility of another giant-killing. It's the first stage where Premier League clubs enter the competition, and year after year, it delivers moments that feel uniquely tied to English football.

But the biggest shocks of the last 20 years haven't been limited to one weekend or one round. From early exits to late-stage eliminations, clubs across the pyramid have fallen at unexpected moments, leaving results that still get referenced long after the season ends.

This article looks back at the most significant FA Cup knockouts of the last two decades.

 

Oldham Athletic vs Liverpool (fourth round 2013)

Oldham Athletic pulled off a memorable 3–2 win over Liverpool at Boundary Park in the fourth round in 2013. The League One side made a blistering start as Matt Smith opened the scoring in the third minute, before Luis Suárez equalised for Liverpool in the 17th. Oldham regained the lead just before half-time when Smith struck again in first-half stoppage time, giving the hosts a 2–1 advantage at the break.

Liverpool's hopes of settling after half-time were quickly dashed when Reece Wabara scored in the 48th minute, putting Oldham two goals clear. Liverpool pushed hard late on and pulled one back through Joe Allen in the 80th minute, but Oldham held firm and eliminated a Premier League side two divisions above them.

 

MK Dons vs Manchester United (second round 2014)

MK Dons stunned Manchester United with a 4–0 thrashing at Stadium MK in the second round in August 2014. The League One side took the lead in the 25th minute when Will Grigg finished confidently to put the hosts ahead. United struggled to respond before the break, and MK Dons carried their momentum into the second half.

Grigg struck again in the 63rd minute, doubling the lead and firmly shifting belief towards the home side. United's problems deepened soon after, as Benik Afobe scored in the 70th minute to make it 3–0. Afobe added his second and MK Dons' fourth in the 84th minute, completing a dominant performance and one of the heaviest FA Cup defeats in Manchester United's history against lower-league opposition.

 

Burnley vs Liverpool (third round 2005)

Liverpool's FA Cup third-round exit in January 2005 came after a 1–0 defeat away to Burnley, remembered less for Burnley's brilliance and more for how flat Liverpool looked throughout. The decisive moment arrived shortly after half-time when Djimi Traore turned the ball into his own net in the 51st minute, handing Burnley the lead without the hosts having to force the issue.

Liverpool struggled to respond in any meaningful way, failing to create sustained pressure or clear chances as the game drifted away from them. Any faint hope of a late comeback was effectively ended when Antonio Nunez was sent off in the 87th minute, leaving Liverpool to finish the match with ten men. While Burnley fully deserved their place in the next round, the tie became a talking point largely because of how passive and disjointed Liverpool were on the night, making it one of the more disappointing exits of the era.

 

Bradford vs Chelsea (fourth round 2015)

Bradford City produced an extraordinary upset when they beat Chelsea 4–2 at Stamford Bridge in the fourth round in January 2015. Bradford were playing in League One, while Chelsea were top of the Premier League under José Mourinho and widely expected to progress comfortably.

Chelsea appeared on course early on, with goals from Gary Cahill in the 38th minute and Ramires in first-half stoppage time giving the hosts a 2–0 lead. But Bradford changed the course of the tie almost immediately after the break. Jon Stead pulled one back in the 41st minute, before Filipe Morais equalised in the 75th, shifting momentum decisively. Andrew Halliday scored in the 77th minute to put Bradford ahead, before Mark Yeates added a fourth in the 90th minute, completing a remarkable comeback.