CAN LIVERPOOL AVOID a third defeat in four games?
We didn’t expect to be writing that line this season, but hey, events etc etc.
Having struggled to a win at home to West Ham either side of defeats to Atletico Madrid and Saturday’s surprise walloping at Watford, Jurgen Klopp’s side arrive at Stamford Bridge amid their worst run of form this season.
That’s a pretty enviable losing streak in Frank Lampard’s eyes, as things have hit the skids for him of late. Chelsea have won just 4 of 11 games in 2020, and this competition remains their best chance of a trophy this season given they are just waiting for Bayern Munich to put them out of their misery in Europe.
Kick off in this FA Cup fifth round clash is at 7.45pm, and you can follow it all live here on The42.
You can get in touch below the line or by emailing gavincooney@the42.ie, and team news follows…
Team News
Chelsea
Kepa returns in nets having been forced to endure a few weeks of Frank Lampard favouring his Willy.
It’s a 200th (!) Chelsea appearance for Pedro, while 18-year-old Billy Gilmour starts in midfield. Among his former Chelsea senior appearances was a decent showing in a 1-1 pre-season draw with Bohemians at Dalymount Park last summer.
Your Chelsea team to play Liverpool! 👊#CHELIV pic.twitter.com/x9FgR7Kz4p
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 3, 2020
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp indulges in his customary FA Cup rotation, but not to the extent he ususally does. Neco Williams comes in for Trent Alexander-Arnold who gets a night off, while Joe Gomez returns in place of Dejan Lovren, who was spotted this morning at the Watford training ground, still tugging on Troy Deeney’s shirt.
Alisson also gets a night off, with Adrian in goal and Andy Lonergan – rather than Irish U21 ‘keeper Caoimhin Kelleher – on the bench.
Firmino and Salah are on the bench, with Minamino and Origi picked in support of Sadio Mane.
Curtis Jones gets another chance to impress from the start.
🔴 TEAM NEWS 🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 3, 2020
Our side to face @ChelseaFC in the #EmiratesFACup 👊
Elsewhere tonight, West Brom host Newcastle while Reading host Sheffield United.
Dara O’Shea starts for West Brom; and David McGoldrick and John Egan start for the Blades at Reading.
By the way – there are no replays in the fifth round of the Cup: we will have a winner tonight, even if it means going to penalties.
It’s been a pretty busy day, news-wise. If you’ve missed any of it…
-
Wales again: Ireland learn Nations League opponents
-
Mick McCarthy rules Seamus Coleman out of the Euro 2020 play-off with Slovakia
-
Ireland goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara hit with FA charge over alleged biting incident
-
‘Last-minute decision’ expected on fate of Ireland’s Euro 2020 play-off
-
RTÉ secure rights to Ireland’s crucial Euro 2020 play-off clash
The sides are in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge.
How do you see this one going?
Poll Results:
Peeeep!
We’re underway in London!
1′ – Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Liverpool start on the front foot, and Mane robs Zouma on the edge of the box. He flicks the ball back for Neco Williams, who hoists a terrific cross to the back post for Origi, but it’s well-cleared by Azpilicueta.
2′ – Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Kepa saves! Another Chelsea error, as Rudiger plays the ball to Minamino. The ball breaks in the area to Mane, but his shot is right at Kepa and he gathers at the second attempt.
Chelsea haven’t got off the bus yet.
3′ – Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
They have now! Pedro pounces on a Williams error and whips a low, teasing cross for Giroud, but Van Dijk does so well to get into the right position to hack the ball clear.
It’s a classic 4-3-3 tonight for Liverpool, with Minamino in the Firmino role centrally, flanked by Mane (right) and Origi (left).
5 – Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Kovacic flights a great ball over the Liverpool defence for Pedro, but Williams recovers well to force a corner.
6 – Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Azpilicueta glances a near-post header across the face of the goal and narrowly wide of the far post! Giroud was mightily close to getting a touch to it.
8′ – Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Now Liverpool go close! Origi sweeps by Azpilicueta on the left wing, and whips a great cross into the six-yard box that narrowly evades Mane, who flung himself at the ball.
10′ – Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Minamino slides a gorgeous through-ball for Mane, but Rudiger matches him stride-for-stride and forces him wide.
11′ – Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
This game is farcically open. Jones gives the ball away and Barkley lets fly from 30 yards, a stinging howitzer that Adrian can only parry and fall over. Van Dijk collects the ball and Liverpool survive.
11′ – Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
What a save by Adrian! The ball breaks for Willian in the area, but Adrian gets a strong left hand to his shot and keeps it out!
GOAL!
13′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Oh God, an Adrian howler right after his heroics. He rolls the ball to his right to Williams, he plays it into Fabinho who passes the ball to Willian.
Willians drives a shot from distance right at the goalkeeper…but it bounces off his side and ends up in the net!
Dear oh dear. It’s poor from Fabinho, but it’s awful from Adrian.
It’s all Chelsea now, they are swarming all over Liverpool as Fabinho endures some kind of nightmare in midfield. He is too easily shrugged off by Barkley, who is then fouled by Lallana. Robertson boots the ball away in disgust but escapes a yellow.
17′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Close! Alsono’s free-kick skims the roof of the net.
18′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Mane clumsily miscontrols the ball out of play under zero pressure. They started well but Liverpool have now gone off the boil.
Elsewhere, the main man David McGoldrick has Sheffield United a goal up at Reading.
20′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Kepa! Kepa! Kepa!
A trio of great saves by the returning goalkeeper!
First he denies Mane from three yards, then Origi from six and Minamino from 12!
24′ Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Minamino twists and turns in the box, pops it left to Mane who reverses the ball right for Mane, whose cross strikes Alonso for a corner. Liverpool appealed for handball but referees both human and video were unmoved.
Chelsea deal adequately with the subsequent corner.
26′ Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Giroud nods down a long ball for Kovacic, who shoots tamely to Adrian’s left.
Eeek. This is the shot Adrian inexplicably let in.
30′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Another Kepa save, this time from Mane! The rebound broke for Williams, but he skewed his volley wide.
32′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Willian ghosts by Fabinho, rolls the ball across the six-yard box and Williams takes up a great position to turn the ball behind for a corner in front of Giroud.
33′ Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
The rebound from the corner drops to Barkley, who skews a volley wide.
34′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool are being totally overrun in midfield, and Chelsea’s latest attack is foiled when an offside Barkley accidentally blocks a Kovacic shot.
35′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool finally get a bit of possession, and Alonso dumps Mane on the ground and the Reds win a free-kick.
37′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Fabinho takes the free-kick but it is too close to Kepa, and he punches clear. This is – so far – a triumphant return to the team for the Chelsea ‘keeper.
38′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool force a corner that skims right across the box…and Origi meets it sky it over the crossbar. That’s where the Barcelona goal could have gone.
Bad news for Chelsea – Mateo Kovacic is limping off. Mason Mount comes on.
Elsewhere, Liverpool fans sing a song in tribute to Ghost Goal’s Luis Garcia. Chelsea fans had started the game singing about Steven Gerrard slipping.
45′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Mount picks a gorgeous ball right for Willian that takes out four Liverpool players, but Van Dijk deals with the subsequent cross.
Two minutes to be added on.
45+1′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Rudiger’s cross is flicked wide by Giroud’s head.
45 +2′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Gilmour gets a round of applause as he tracks back to dispossess Mane in the box. Terrific work.
HT: Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Well, that was terrific fun. Chelsea have the lead because Kepa has made saves you don’t expect him to make while Adrian didn’t make the one he should have.
Youngsters Billy Gilmour and Neco Williams have been stand-outs, Fabinho and Adrian less so.
This has been great – we’ll be back in a few!
We’re back underway!
No changes for either side at the break.
48′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Jones lifts the ball over the Chelsea defence for Origi, who stands the defender up before cutting inside…then further inside…and then further inside before overrunning the ball and losing it.
49′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
More bad injury news for Chelsea – Willian has dropped to the ground and his day looks done. Jorginho being prepped.
52′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Chelsea break as Williams loses the ball, but Pedro overcooks his cross and it all comes to nowt.
54′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Lengthy Liverpool possession is ended with Mane playing an easy pass for Williams over the endline. He is another Liverpool front-liner who doesn’t quite look himself at the moment.
55′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Gorgeous Liverpool counter, as Jones glides forward and then gives the ball to Robertson on his left. His cross is drilled across to Williams, whose shot is flicked goalward by Mane but gathered by Kepa.
56′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool come again, and Lallana’s penalty box shot is blocked for a corner by Zouma.
58′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Chelsea break up a Liverpool attack and counter two-on-two, but Mount’s touch to take him clear is slightly heavy. They retain possession and eventually win a free-kick 25 yards from goal after a Lallana handball.
59′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool clear the set-piece and break up the right through Mane, who then pulls up looking like he twinges a muscle.
As it turns out, he feels he was kicked – but referee Chris Kavanagh is unmoved.
61′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Chelsea then win a free-kick on the edge of the D, as Fabinho slides in late on Mount. He is booked, and Adrian might have a bit of work to do…
62′ – Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
Off the crossbar!
Mount takes the free-kick he won and rattles the top of the bar!
GOAL!
63′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool (Barkley)
Wow, what a goal by Ross Barkley! Van Dijk wins a header in the Chelsea half, but it drips for Barkley, he drives straight at the Liverpool defence and then lets fly from outside the box beyond Adrian!
66′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Pedro blows a glorious chance for three!
Liverpool are all over the shop here. Williams undercooks a pass for Gomez and Pedro pounces, drives through an empty Chelsea half but, one-on-one with Adrian, shoots right at the goalkeeper!
This game should be up.
(If it isn’t already.)
Double Liverpool change: Firmino and Milner on for Origi and Jones.
70′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Milner’s first act is a poor free-kick that’s easily dealt with, and the follow up effort by Gomez dribbles wide.
74′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Holy hell, it’s an outrageous Adrian save.
The ball is lofted over the the top of the Liverpool defence to an ambling Giroud, who shrugs off Gomez to fire a shot in the box that Adrian tips onto the underside of the bar!
That save keeps Liverpool in it, and now they’ve forced a corner. They could do with getting a goal back soon…
76′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
..it won’t be from that. Milner’s corner is poor and cleared, and then he hacks down Pedro on the counter, earning the most blatant yellow card of the year.
77′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Liverpool have had 70% of the ball in the second half so far, but really haven’t done a whole lot with it.
Mo Salah is coming on, replacing Adam Lallana.
80′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Firmino miscontols the ball out of play in what might be his first touch.
Liverpool’s A-Listers are losing form at a bad time.
83′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Better from Liverpool, as they send Robertson down the flank and he earns a corner off Azpiliceuta.
Firmino then heads said corner wide.
85′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Another big chance wasted for Chelsea.
Again they beat Liverpool’s offside trap and send Mount over the top, but he blasts the ball into the stand instead of squaring for an unmarked Giroud.
86′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Fabinho’s plight is deepened, as he is totally mugged off by the frankly brilliant Gilmour. He then slips the ball through for Giroud, whose shot is deflected wide. Corner Chelsea, Liverpool look a beaten docket.
89′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Giroud, again terrific, makes way for Reece James.
Four minutes to be added on.
Liverpool force a corner off Rudiger and then another off Azpiliceuta. Can they make these closing stages interesting?
Nope. They clear the corner and Salah skies a poor volley that Kepa punches clear.
90+4′ – Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
Sadio Mane is booked for a tangle with Azpilicueta.
FT: Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool
A deserved win for Chelsea, who advance thanks to goals from Willian and Barkley and fine performances from Giroud and Billy Gilmour.
Liverpool meanwhile, looked shattered and shorn of ideas, and Jurgen Klopp will be pretty concerned at this loss of form ahead of the Champions League second leg with Atletico.
Thanks for following, bye!
