Liverpool, Chelsea win to reach FA Cup quarter final

Agency :
Liverpool booked their spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals as a first-half double from Japanese forward Takumi Minamino secured a 2-1 win over Norwich City at Anfield on Wednesday.
Three days after they won the League Cup to clinch the first major trophy of the season, Liverpool dominated Premier League strugglers Norwich in the early stages.
Minamino’s first goal ended a fine Liverpool move, with Divock Origi, given a rare start by manager Juergen Klopp, setting up his team mate in the 29th minute.
A powerful finish from Minamino eight minutes later put Liverpool in command and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain almost added a third midway through the second half.
However, Norwich refused to give in and Lukas Rupp gave them hope with an arrowing strike 14 minutes from time.
That ensured a nervy finish at Anfield, with home goalkeeper Alisson forced to deny Norwich substitute Jonathan Rowe, but the hosts held on to stay in the hunt for three more trophies this season.
Chelsea survived a major FA Cup scare to reach the quarter-finals with a 3-2 win at Luton just hours after Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale on Wednesday.
Thomas Tuchel’s side took to the Kenilworth Road pitch for the fifth round tie with their heads still spinning from Abramovich’s bombshell announcement.
The Russian billionaire has decided to sell Chelsea amid fears he could be sanctioned by the British government amid his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich, who is alleged to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, will give the net proceeds from the sale to victims of the Ukraine war, with his asking price starting at a reported £3 billion ($4 billion).
After his massive investment helped Chelsea win 19 major trophies in his 19-year reign, Abramovich admitted it had been “incredibly difficult” to give up the keys to Chelsea.
Fittingly, it was Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku who completed Chelsea’s escape act on the day the Abramovich era entered its final chapter.
Chelsea twice trailed against second-tier Luton before Lukaku bagged the winner in the closing stages to spare their blushes.
Abramovich sanctioned the club record £97 million deal that brought Lukaku from Inter Milan last year in the final blockbuster transfer of his reign.
Asked about the sale, Tuchel admitted it was impossible to imagine Chelsea without Abramovich.
“I’m not so much worried because I still feel privileged and in a good place. I’m never afraid of change, and will focus on what I can influence, and this is staff and team.”
It was a much-needed victory for Chelsea after their agonising penalty shoot-out defeat in the League Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday.
But it was Abramovich’s seismic decision to sell up that hogged the attention at tiny Kenilworth Road.
Chelsea’s travelling fans sang Abramovich’s name when news of the impending sale filtered through before kick-off.
Chants of ‘we’ve won it all’ prompted an acerbic response from Luton supporters, who sang ‘you bought it all’ in reponse to the millions invested by Abramovich in star signings.
Chelsea conceded a shock goal in the second minute as Reece Burke rose above Malang Sarr to glance his header past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Tuchel’s side hit back in the 27th minute when Saul Niguez scored for the first time since his August loan move from Atletico Madrid.
Saul drilled a composed finish from the edge of the area after Timo Werner started an incisive counter-attack.