Liverpool beaten again seeing that Chelsea convenience into FA Cup quarters
Jurgen Klopp insisted the very best of Liverpool's season may still be to come despite a third defeat in four games found them crash out of the FA Cup 2-0 as a result of Chelsea on Tuesday.
Klopp made seven improvements to the side beaten for the first time in 45 Premier League games in Watford on Saturday, but nonetheless named a far more robust XI compared to the youthful clubs that had seen off Everton and Shrewsbury to attain the fifth round.
Even so, goals from Willian and Ross Barkley provided Frank Lampard's men a much-needed lift for Stamford Bridge.
"Losing 2-0 isn't good, but it is relatively easy to explain. We built two massive flaws around the goals," said Klopp.
Liverpool remain good on course for an initial league title in 30 years with a 22-point lead near the top of the Premier League, but run the chance of their competitive plan arriving at an early end after the name is sewn up unless they are able to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit against Atletico Madrid found in the Champions League next week.
"It is not the best 3 weeks of the complete season but it is a chance to make it the best three weeks nowadays and this is the plan," added Klopp.
"Nobody has to have a pity party for all of us, we will get football games and that is what you want to do on Saturday."
A go of five wins on 16 league game titles and a 3-0 thrashing at home by Bayern Munich on the initial leg of their Champions League last 16 tie the other day meant the pressure was over Chelsea to keep their expectations of silverware this season alive.
"We aren't the Chelsea of diverse eras eliminated by with (Eden) Hazard and (Diego) Costa, (John) Terry and (Didier) Drogba, we have younger players but we want to bridge the gap upwards," said Lampard.
"I can't require any longer in the spirit, job ethic and top quality. You have got to defend very well to keep a tidy sheet against them."
Chelsea got the lift up they needed from the starting goal seeing that Liverpool's understudy goalkeeper Adrian undid the nice work of an excellent preserve from Willian within a minute.
The Brazilian was gifted possession again just beyond your Liverpool box which time Adrian could only turn his powerful drive in to the bottom corner.
At the other end, Kepa Arrizabalaga, who had been dropped for the previous five games, showed why Chelsea spent £72 million ($92 million) on him only over 1 . 5 years ago as he built three reaction saves in just a matter of secs to deny Mane, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino what appeared a certain equaliser.
Chelsea then shed Mateo Kovacic and Willian to injury either area of half-time to help expand deplete Lampard's midfield alternatives.
But that might provide the prospect Barkley needs to kickstart his flagging career at the Bridge.
The England international doubled Chelsea's lead in spectacular design midway through the next half as he galloped forward from inside his own half before smashing past Adrian from beyond your area.
Newcastle and Sheffield United as well booked their place found in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
A twice from Miguel Almiron helped Newcastle to a 3-2 gain at West Brom to attain the previous eight for the first time in 14 years.
Sheffield United needed extra-time to find off Reading 2-1, however the Blades' brilliant plan continued thanks to a winner from captain Billy Sharp.
