until the last game.
“It’s a reference point.”
Tuesday night’s FA Cup encounter between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge offered a throwback
to when the hosts were considered to be just that. The last time the sides renewed hostilities in the
competition was during the 2012 final at Wembley, in which John Terry lifted the trophy after a 2-1 victory.
Lampard was orchestrating the midfield that May day, two weeks before he captained Chelsea to
Champions League glory against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. As kick-off edged closer here, that
felt like an altogether different era – not least as this Liverpool arrived in west London as kings of Europe
and soon-to-be-crowned title winners, and this erratic Chelsea were decimated 3-0 by the German giants at
Stamford Bridge last week.
Then, the Blues had no headache over their goalkeeping situation with Petr Cech in between the sticks.
Now, Kepa Arrizabalaga was proving to be a £72m problem.
The Spain international had been benched for the previous six games, but was restored to the starting line-
up against Liverpool. He needed a solid showing, Lampard expected a strong response from the 25-year-old
to being dropped and Chelsea, following a series of defensive disasters, required stability and confidence
from their stopper.
Kepa produced five saves on a night that reminded the audience what he was capable of and why he
commanded such an exorbitant fee that made him the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he moved
to the capital from Athletic Bilbao in 2018.
Three of those saves came on 20 minutes, when he stunned Liverpool by transforming into a human form of
Thou Shalt Not Pass. He thwarted Sadio Mane from close range before quickly getting on his feet to avert
follow-up danger from Divock Origi and then blocking from Curtis Jones.
Kepa’s save count was more than he managed in any of his 24 Premier League games this season and the
performance came at a perfect time on an individual level and for the collective.
Liverpool manager Klopp congratulates Chelsea
goalkeeper Kepa (Getty)Chelsea, beaten twice already by Liverpool in the campaign despite turning in promising displays, finally
outplayed Klopp’s juggernaut. Their goalkeeper was crucial to the result, but so was 18-year-old midfielder
Billy Gilmour – the standout talent on the night.
Ross Barkley, so often maligned, was magnificent against the club he relishes rising up against most.
“Billy was brilliant,” the former Everton midfielder said. “But it was not a surprise to me. I’ve seen him in