Liverpool made seven changes to the side that lost surprisingly at Watford on Saturday – the first reverse of their league campaign after a run of 18 successive victories left them on the brink of a first title for 30 years.

Chelsea, however, still had to overcome a 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 thirteen minutes when he hopelessly fumbled his 20-yard shot, however the European champions had chances of their personal only to see recalled keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga present a formidable barrier with a string of saves.

The game was efficiently settled after sixty four minutes when former Everton midfielder Ross Barkley surged from inside his own half on a solo run before beating Adrian with an emphatic strike.

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

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

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