toptop
Chelsea
secured their passage into the FA Cup quarter-final as they beat Liverpool 2-0
in an enthralling tie at Stamford Bridge.
Willian and Ross Barkley scored in each half on Tuesday night, as they inflicted
back-to-back defeats on Jurgen Klopp's side - who failed to bounce back from
their first Premier League defeat of the season at Watford on Saturday.
It was the first time Liverpool had lost two games in a row since January 2019,
and it also ended their hopes of an illustrious Treble. Although Klopp's seven
changes would suggest he is more focused on the battles that lie ahead,
including an attempt to overhaul Atletico Madrid in their last-16 Champions
League tie next week.
For Frank Lampard, who won this competition four times as a player, it was a
massive win and will help lift his players after some recent difficulties in the
Premier League and Champions League. They will be in the hat for the last eight.
How Chelsea won a cracking Cup encounter
Player ratings
Chelsea: Kepa (7), Azpilicueta (7), Rudiger (7), Zouma (7),
Alonso (7), Kovacic (6), Gilmour (8), Barkley (8), Willian (7), Pedro (7),
Giroud (7)
Subs: Mount (7), Jorginho (6), James (n/a)
Liverpool: Adrian (5), Williams (6), Van Dijk (5), Gomez (5),
Robertson (5), Fabinho (4), Lallana (5), Jones (5), Minamino (4), Origi (5),
Mane (6)
Subs: Milner (n/a), Firmino (n/a), Salah (n/a)
Man of the match: Ross Barkley
The first half fulfilled every cliche going about end-to-end cup ties, with
virtually the entire 45 minutes played at a relentless pace.
Liverpool started the brighter but the opener went the way of Chelsea on 13
minutes. Some loose passing as Liverpool tried to play out from the back saw
Fabinho lose the ball to Willian. He then shot from the edge of the area and
Adrian somehow let the ball through his grasp and squirm into the bottom corner.
At the other end his opposite number Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was recalled to the
Chelsea side after losing his place to Willy Caballero, was clearly intent on
impressing and earning his No 1 spot back. He made several fine saves to keep
Liverpool out in the first half, including an impressive triple stop on 20
minutes as he denied Sadio Mane, Divock Origi and then Curtis Jones all in quick
succession.
Klopp sent Liverpool out early again for the start of the second half - just as
he did at Watford on Saturday - but once again they looked flat. After 64
minutes Chelsea managed to double their lead through Barkley, who was
inadvertently played in by a Virgil van Dijk header before charging 50 yards and
finishing low from the edge of the area.
Pedro then had a chance to kill the tie a few minutes later as he also got in
behind before facing Adrian one on one, but he shot straight at the goalkeeper.
There would be no recovery from Liverpool, though, even as Klopp threw on
Roberto Firmino, James Milner and later Mohamed Salah, and now no Treble either.
Kepa impressive on return to side
Lampard will have been pleased with the performance of his goalkeeper Kepa
Arrizabalaga, who reacted exactly as he hoped he would on his return to the
side. The Spaniard had been left ouf of Chelsea's last six games, but made
several excellent saves and commanded his box well. You would expect to see him
back in the Premier League side on Sunday, too.
Man of the Match: Ross Barkley
An absolute toss-up between two Chelsea midfielders. Billy Gilmour was
sensational and will have given Lampard real food for thought as he turns his
attention to their Premier League clash with Everton on Sunday, but Barkley just
edges it. He had one of those evenings where he looked the class player he could
and should be with more consistency, and took his goal superbly.
What's next?
Both sides are back in Premier League action at the weekend. Liverpool host
Bournemouth on Saturday (12.30pm), and Chelsea welcome Everton to Stamford
Bridge on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1pm. Kick-off is
at 2pm.
Click Here For Official Team Sheet
Teams
Chelsea Kepa, Azpilicueta (c), Rudiger, Zouma, Alonso, Gilmour,
Barkley, Kovacic (Mount 42), Willian (Jorginho 51), Pedro, Giroud (James 90)
Subs Not Used Caballero, Tomori, Anjorin, Batshuayi
Booked
Goals Willian 13, Barkley 64
Liverpool Adrian, Williams, Van Dijk (c), Gomez, Robertson,
Fabinho, Lallana (Salah 80), Minamino, Jones (Milner 70), Mane, Origi (Firmino
70)
Subs Not Used Lonergan, Matip, Chirivella, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Booked Fabinho, Milner, Mane
Goals
Attendance 40,103
Referee Chris Kavanagh