Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

An entertaining tie at Stamford Bridge saw Chelsea knock the league leaders Liverpool out of the F.A. Cup. With the visitors struggling in their Champions League phase tie against Atletico Madrid and losing their first league game to Watford at the weekend, they lost again as Chelsea took them apart on an evening when debutant Billy Gilmour shone in midfield.

Frank Lampard’s side were the more urgent throughout, and goals from Willian and Ross Barkley were enough to see The Blues through to a quarter-final where they will host Leicester City. Willian’s effort squirmed through the hapless Adrian in goal for Liverpool, but there was no stopping Ross Barkley’s strike for the decisive second. The former Evertonian slalomed through the Liverpool side from his own half before jinking into some space ahead of Joe Gomez and smashing an unstoppable shot into the bottom left corner.

Liverpool huffed and puffed, bringing on Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah, but they were impotent in threatening Kepa’s goal and Chelsea prevented the Merseysiders dreaming of the treble any longer. Liverpool may still win the league at a canter, but they may well look back on this period as a worrying sign that next season won’t be as easy as the start of this one was. Chelsea, only alive in this competition, are now joint second favourites to win the F.A. Cup.