Billy Gilmour gleams, Curtis Jones becalmed – How Chelsea and Liverpool teens impacted FA Cup showdown

Liverpool’s children have loved nice moments on this season’s FA Cup, however Chelsea’s Billy Gilmour stole the display at Stamford Bridge.

Goals from Willian and Ross Barkley gave Chelsea a deserved 2-Zero win over runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool within the 5th around of the FA Cup.

Although the ones two seasoned campaigners gave Frank Lampard’s males the threshold in an soaking up contest and Liverpool ended the event with their celebrated entrance 3 of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah at the pitch, there used to be nonetheless a younger edge to the competition.

Curtis Jones and Neco Williams coated up for the guests, whilst Billy Gilmour used to be decided on within the Chelsea engine room.

Here, we have a look at how the ones 3 gifted youngsters fared with a spot within the quarter-finals at stake.

BILLY GILMOUR

The Stamford Bridge plenty temporarily warmed to Gilmour, whose contributions from the bottom of Lampard’s midfield had been in an instant simple at the eye.

A hectic presence in entrance of the again 4, Gilmour’s vary of passing and tranquility underneath drive intended he might be forgiven for permitting Liverpool a couple of too many runs on the defence he used to be charged with protective.

A sprayed 33rd-minute go out of play drew gasps, such were the standard of the 18-year-old’s metronomic show up till that time, whilst Mateo Kovacic and Willian’s departures via harm – forcing a reshuffle – didn’t dissatisfied his poise.

Gilmour tried (26) and finished (21) extra passes than every other Chelsea participant throughout the primary part – numbers that dwindled in potency because the hosts increasingly more operated at the destroy after Barkley reinforced their lead.

Nevertheless, the Scotland formative years world used to be then in a position to turn his combative facet, be it gaining ownership on 9 events or grappling with Takumi Minamino when protecting a nook. It all amounted to a man-of-the-match show.

Jones’ phase in Liverpool’s 2020 FA Cup marketing campaign will are living lengthy within the reminiscence of the Anfield devoted after his surprising objective noticed off Everton in around 3, whilst he captained a younger facet to victory within the fourth-round replay at house to Shrewsbury Town.

However, the high-octane opening at Stamford Bridge handed the 19-year-old via now and then, with Adrian managing to save lots of a stinging force from Barkley after Jones gave away ownership.

A artful flick within the 18th minute nearly were given Sadio Mane away down the proper flank and Jones’ follow-up drew the overall instalment of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s implausible triple save within the 20th minute.

Jones made means for the contrastingly skilled James Milner with 20 mins last. Having been concerned about 8 Premier League matchday squads already this season, the teen may without a doubt have performed extra to press his case, even if 32 of 35 passes finished confirmed him to had been tidy sufficient in ownership.

NECO WILLIAMS

Williams’ trail to the Liverpool first-team regularly in sophisticated via Trent Alexander-Arnold’s presence, but the 18-year-old Welshman steadily revelled within the thick of the motion.

A teasing early pass used to be adopted via a well-judged sliding problem on Pedro within the 7th minute. Williams remained closely concerned at each ends of the pitch, even if a groovy last-ditch clearance to stop Olivier Giroud from scoring used to be way more confident than a couple of sliced makes an attempt on objective.

As the sport were given clear of Liverpool, an error via the right-back allowed Pedro to streak away at the destroy – Adrian status company to spare his team-mate.