Chelsea beat Liverpool in FA cup to inflict second successive defeat

Chelsea beat league leaders Liverpool 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Liverpool made seven changes to the side that succumbed to a suprise loss at Watford last Saturday which marked the first loss of their league campaign after 18 victories.

Chelsea won over a strong Liverpool team containing the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Andy Robertson and Joe Gomez in a hard-fought fifth-round tie.

Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian gifted Willian Chelsea's opener after 13 minutes but the Reds had their chances as well and it was keeper Arrizabalaga that presented a formidable barrier with a series of saves.

The game was effectively settled after 64 minutes when former Everton midfielder and Toffees fan Barkley surged from inside his own half on a solo run before beating Adrian with an emphatic strike.

Chelsea could have had more but Mason Mount rattled the crossbar with a 25-yard free-kick, before striker Olivier Giroud saw an effort brilliantly tipped on to the woodwork by Adrian.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will now have Wembley in his sights while Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp returns to the task of wrapping up the Premier League title and overcoming a 1-0 deficit from the Champions League last-16 first leg against Atletico Madrid.

The result meant Liverpool suffered their second successive defeat of this stellar season in a highly-competitive encounter at Stamford Bridge.