Spirited Chelsea made it a torrid few days for Liverpool as goals by Willian and Ross Barkley secured a 2-0 win to send the Blues through to the FA Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Earlier on Saturday, Liverpool’s 44-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League ended in stunning fashion with a 3-0 defeat at Watford and now the Reds suffered their second consecutive defeat at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Can't stop watching this goal 🤩#UndertheLights #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/ZlL1DbyVUM
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 4, 2020
Reserve keeper Adrian who started in place of Alisson who was rested endured a horrible moment when he allowed Willian’s powerful shot to bounce off him and into the net in the 13th minute.
In the hour mark, former Everton midfielder Barkley drove home Chelsea’s second goal after a surging run.
Eight-time winners Chelsea dominated the match and thoroughly deserved their win and gaffer Frank Lampard will take heart from the fact that on the previous two occasions when they have beaten the Anfield based side in the Cup they have gone on to lift the trophy.
“They are the best team in the land, this year what they are doing in the league is incredible,” Lampard said.
“So for us to put in the effort, focus, determination, and quality was something special tonight. It’s a one-off I know, but you have to celebrate these moments.”
Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp made seven changes to the side that lost to Watford but still started with Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson, and Fabinho.
A frenetic opening saw Adrian make a stunning save from Willian but soon he went from hero to villain.
Fabinho was caught in possession and Willian again tried his luck from distance. His shot hot went straight at the keeper but it somehow wiggled past him and into the back of the net.
At the other end, Chelsea shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga saved thrice in a remarkable fashion before halftime.
Initially, he blocked Mane’s close-range effort and then kept out follow-up attempts by Divock Origi and teenager Curtis Jones.
The visitors however faded in the second half which Barkley took advantage of as he burst forward and fired past Adrian to register the Blues a convincing victory over the Reds.
The hosts would have registered further goals if Mason Mount’s striking 25-yard free-kick had not gone against the bar before Olivier Giroud being denied a goal after a superb save by Adrian.
Liverpool’s fantastic form this season has suddenly hit the buffers after being beaten thrice in four games in all competitions having also lost to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League, last-16 tie.
FULL–TIME | Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
⚽ Chelsea – Willian (13′)
⚽ Chelsea – Ross Barkley (64′)
