By Henry Vinter | 18 March 2056
If familiarity breeds contempt, then Chelsea and Liverpool must absolutely detest each other by now. In their third meeting of the season—and with a fourth looming in the league next week—Calin Dimario’s side struck a psychological blow of sledgehammer proportions, dismantling the Reds 4-1 to cruise into the FA Cup Semi-Finals.
This wasn’t just a win; it was an assertion of dominance. Despite a rare howl of an error from goalkeeper Hasitha Mohamed Risvi, Chelsea’s outfield juggernaut simply shifted gears and ran Liverpool over.
The 37th Minute of Madness
The game began with typically ruthless efficiency. Júnior, the Brazilian winger whose finishing has become razor-sharp, opened the scoring in the 14th minute. He ghosted in at the back post to convert a “placed shot from close range” that kissed the inside of the post on its way in.
Then came the minute that defined the chaotic nature of the tie.
In the 37th minute, Joseph Haigh doubled the lead with a “close range finish” into the bottom left corner, seemingly putting Chelsea in cruise control.
But before the tannoy announcer could even finish shouting Haigh’s name, Liverpool were back in it. Straight from the kickoff, a long ball caused panic, and the usually reliable Risvi produced a moment of madness. His error allowed Liverpool’s defensive midfielder Makis Sotiriou to loop a header into an empty net.
2-1. Game on? Not quite.
D’Urso and Pele End the Argument
Any hope of a Liverpool comeback was extinguished in the second half by sheer quality.
Left-back Luca D’Urso, stepping up in the absence of the injured Luther Banton, restored the two-goal cushion in the 58th minute with a “powerful effort” that left the keeper grasping at thin air.
The final flourish was applied by the Player of the Match, Pelé. The Brazilian veteran, who earned an 8.8 rating, capped a magnificent individual display (1 goal, 1 assist, 4 key passes) by scoring deep in stoppage time (90+3). His “powerful effort” deflected in, a fittingly cruel end for a Liverpool side that had been thoroughly outclassed.
“Gegenpress” vs “Route One”
Tactically, this was a mismatch. Dimario’s high-pressing machine suffocated Liverpool, limiting them to just 5 shots and 36% possession.
Liverpool’s “Route One” approach was prehistoric compared to Chelsea’s fluid movement. With 15 shots and an xG of 2.04, the 4-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the gap between the two sides.
The Treble? The Quadruple?
With the Carabao Cup already in the trophy cabinet (or at least the final booked/played—wait, the user timeline implies the final is done or imminent), and the League title a formality, the FA Cup represents the next pillar of a potential clean sweep.
Chelsea are in the Semi-Finals. Liverpool are out. And in a few days time, they have to come back to the Drogba Arena and do it all again in the League. On this evidence, they might want to leave the bus engine running.