(Football news) A nervy clash between Chelsea vs Plymouth ended 2-1 in favour of the Blues, largely due to the heroics of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Marcos Alonso’s extra time winner. Arrizabalaga saved Ryan Hardie's shot from the penalty spot after Malang Sarr brought down the Plymouth striker. It was clear that Chelsea missed Thomas Tuchel who missed the fixture after testing positive for COVID-19 and the German manager is unlikely to be in the dugout in Chelsea’s Club World Cup match next week.
Plymouth got an early lead when Macaulay Gillesphey’s header went into the back of the net in the 8th minute from ex-Chelsea youth midfielder Jordan Houghton's free-kick. Cesar Azpilicueta equalised for Chelsea with a backheel finish before half-time and the Blues were unlucky not to have scored more goals as they hit the woodwork three times. The game headed into extra time with neither side finding a breakthrough and the first period almost ended without anything eventful until some good combination play by Kai Havertz and Timo Werner set the ball up for Alonso who found the back of the net in the 105 + 1 minute.
Just when it seemed that the match may be straightforward from then onwards, Hardie intercepted Sarr’s pass and raced into the goal area only for the latter to foul him inside the box. The forward stepped up to take the penalty but Kepa Arrizabalaga saved the day and ensured his side won’t have to be in a penalty shootout. Speaking after the match, Chelsea assistant Arno Michels said "I think we had for me 60 minutes where we could also lead 3-1, we had very many opportunities. We were a bit unlucky with crossbar, post, and at the same time we scored more or less an own goal to bring us into difficulty. But everyone would say the most important thing in the FA Cup is to go through, and that's what we did."
Meanwhile at the Etihad Stadium, two goals by Riyad Mahrez helped Manchester City come from behind to defeat Fulham 4-1. Pep Guardiola’s team were left stunned when Fabio Carvalho opened the scoring after just four minutes for Fulham but a goal by Ilkay Gundogan just two minutes later restored parity. John Stones gave City the lead in the 13th minute from Kevin De Bruyne’s inswinging cross. After the second goal, City took their foot off the pedal slightly until the start of the second half. Riyad Mahrez scored his first goal of the night after Grealish was fouled by Joe Bryan. The Algerian redeemed himself after missing a penalty against Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations.
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That wasn’t all as Mahrez scored his second just four minutes later after Kevin De Bruyne made a run from the halfway line and found the Algerian with a low ball. Mahrez’s shot took a slight deflection but still went into the back of the net. Pep Guardiola then went on to use all five substitutions as City went into cruise control and progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup. Speaking after the match, Man City boss Pep Guardiola said "I know which team we faced today and which team we beat. When a team is top of the Championship it is because they are really good. Marco (Silva) has created an incredible team. We knew how difficult it would be. I am not over-exaggerating. If they carry on playing this way we will face them again in the Premier League, I am sure. But in the second half we adjusted our pressing, which had not been good. It was much better and the quality of our players made the difference."
Liverpool defeated Cardiff 3-1 at Anfield with Harvey Elliot marking his return with his first goal for the Reds. The 18 year old had not featured for Liverpool since dislocating his ankle in a Premier League match against Leeds in September but fired a clinical finish in the 76th minute from Andrew Robertson’s cross after coming off the bench. Earlier, Diogo Jota had given the hosts a lead with a header in the 53rd minute from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s freekick. Takumi Minamino doubled Liverpool’s advantage in the 68th minute after being assisted by new signing Luis Diaz.
It was not all doom and gloom for Cardiff as teenage substitute Rubin Colwill found the back of the net after firing past Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the 80th minute. However, the gulf between the two sides was too big and Liverpool progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup for only the second time during Jurgen Klopp’s reign at Anfield. Liverpool will face Leicester City next in the Premier League on Thursday while Cardiff will take on Peterborough on Wednesday.
