Chelsea beat Liverpool to clinch quarter-final place

Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0

---

Ross Barkley’s fine solo goal sealed a cracking FA Cup win for Chelsea.

Willian’s 13th-minute goal put the Blues ahead and Barkley netted in fine style midway through the second half to send champions elect Liverpool out and his side through to the quarter-finals.

Former Everton man Barkley collected the ball in his own half and galloped beyond Fabinho towards the penalty area before unleashing a superb strike past Adrian.

Earlier, Willian made the most of an error by Fabinho and then profited from a gaffe by Adrian.

Having pounced after Fabinho gave the ball away, Willian tried his luck with a shot which was straight at Adrian but the Liverpool keeper inexplicably allowed the ball to squirm past his arm and into the net.

At the other end, the recalled Kepa Arrizabalaga produced a triple save to preserve Chelsea’s lead.

The Blues keeper denied Sadio Mane, Divock Origi and then Curtis Jones in quick succession.

And Kepa produced another fine stop before the interval, this time to keep out an effort from Mane.

Chelsea youngster Billy Gilmour was given another chance to impress in midfield and was outstanding.

However, on a less positive note for Chelsea, their injury worries worsened, with Mateo Kovacic and then Willian limping off.

Mason Mount, who replaced Kovacic, hit the bar with a free-kick shortly before Barkley’s goal.

Pedro had a chance to make it 3-0 after finding himself through on goal but shot straight at Adrian, who then denied Olivier Giroud at point-blank range by tipping the Frenchman’s shot on to the bar.

[scriptless]