Conor Hazard: Keeper says Plymouth ‘weren’t expecting much’ against Liverpool

Hazard, who began his sporting career by playing Gaelic football for his local Saul club in Downpatrick, said he had full confidence that Hardie would net the penalty which was awarded after Harvey Elliott’s handball.

“I was never in doubt. I knew he was going to score. He practises them every day,” added the keeper, who has earned eight Northern Ireland caps during a club career which began at Celtic and whose several loan stints included a spell in Finland with HJK Helsinki.

“Me and Ryan are quite close. We would spend quite a lot of time together and I’m delighted for him as a person.”

Hazard added that the cup shock has boosted “everyone at the club”.

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

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

Miron Muslic took over after Wayne Rooney’s departure on New Year’s Eve and the Bosnian had already become a popular figure at Home Park before Sunday’s match.