The Reds crashed out of the FA Cup tonight after goals from Willian and Ross Barkley condemn Klopp’s side to their second defeat in four days.
The visitors came into the fifth-round tie looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season against Watford on Saturday.
The Liverpool boss named a stronger side than had been previously seen in the competition by his side this season. Curtis Jones and Neco Williams were the two youngsters named in a starting XI which included January signing, Takumi Minamino.
They faced a strong Chelsea side that included a promising youngster of their own, in the form of 19 year old Harvey Gilmour.
Line Ups:
Liverpool: Adrian; Williams; Gomez; Van Dijk; Robertson; Fabinho; Jones; Lallana; Minamino; Origi; Mane
(Subs: Lonergan; Firmino; Milner; Salah; Oxlade-Chamberlain; Matip; Chirevella)
Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta; Zouma; Rudiger; Alonso; Kovacic; Gilmour; Barkley; Willian; Pedro; Giroud
(Subs: Cabellero; Tomori; James; Mount; Anjorin; Batshuayi; Jorginho)
First Half
Both sides started brightly at Stamford Bridge
Liverpool looked to press high and were nearly rewarded for their pressure. Kurt Zouma was caught trying to play out from the back. Liverpool broke quickly, but Mane’s shot went straight at Kepa.
Chelsea were a constant threat at the other end. The warning signs were there early on, with only a superb recovery tackle from Neco Williams preventing Pedro from making more of a brilliant ball over the top.
The Blues got in again and it took a brilliant save from Adrian to deny Willian. The Spaniard stood up strong and stuck out a firm arm to deny the winger’s sweetly struck volley.
The Red’s keeper was to turn from hero to villain no longer than 10 seconds later.
Fabinho’s poor pass was intercepted by Willian just outside the box. The Brazilian produced a powerful strike straight at Adrian, whose attempt to catch it resulted in the ball cannoning into the corner.
Klopp talked a lot about the mentality of his players in the buildup to this clash, and it was clear his players didn’t seem fazed after going a goal down.
It took a brilliant double save from Kepa in the Chelsea goal to prevent the visitors from equaling the score.
Shots from Mane and Origi were both kept out by the Spaniard after great play from Williams down the right.
Mane was in the thick of it again. The winger wriggled away first from Rudiger and then from Azpilicueta before he saw his shot saved by Kepa.
Chelsea were forced into a substitution just before the break. Kovacic went down and was taken off, with Frank Lampard calling on the services off Mason Mount.
HT: Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0
Second Half
The Chelsea manager was given further injury headaches after the break. Goal-scorer Willian was forced off after pulling up less than five minutes into the second half. The Brazilian was replaced by Jorginho.
The home side piled the pressure on the league leaders, and went close as Mason Mount saw his free kick clip the top of the crossbar.
Their pressure was rewarded shortly after however.
Jones lost the ball for Liverpool, and Ross Barkley was released in the center of the pitch. The former Everton midfielder drove at the back-peddling Joe Gomez before firing a low drive past the outstretched arms of Adrian.
Pedro should have extended the Blues advantage to three shortly after. The Spanish winger only had the keeper to beat as he latched onto a long ball over the top.
The Red’s stopper saved smartly from his compatriot to keep the score line down.
The away side were clearly in need of a lift. Klopp called on the services of Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Mohammed Salah as his side pushed to get back in the game.
The changes were to no avail however and the game finished with Chelsea advancing to the next round of the FA Cup.
FT: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0
Goals: Willian (12); Barkley (63)
What next for the Reds?
With three losses in their last four in all competitions, Liverpool are in the middle of a rough patch. Even looking at their comeback win against West Ham, it is fair to say Klopp’s side have not been at their best in recent weeks.
The German manager will be looking to see a reaction against Bournemouth at home on Saturday.
The Reds will be keen to gain some much needed momentum before they welcome Atletico Madrid to Anfield next week for the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.
Feature image provided by Carlos yo, licensed by Creative Commons
