FA Cup final: Liverpool and Chelsea meet again for the 4th time this season

Liverpool and Chelsea will contest the FA Cup final later in May after both saw off Manchester City and Crystal Palace respectively in the s...

Liverpool and Chelsea will contest the FA Cup final later in May after both saw off Manchester City and Crystal Palace respectively in the semifinals. (Photo credit: (Premierleague.com)

Liverpool will appear in the FA Cup final for the first time in ten years after seeing out Manchester City at Wembley, setting up a date against Chelsea, who on their own majestic strides are appearing in their third consecutive finals.

The Kops beat Manchester City 3-2 in a thrilling affair that had their hearts in their mouths in the last few minutes, a sharp contrast to what the larger part of the game suggests. Liverpool raced into a three goal lead but had to hold it together to fend off a late City surge.

Young American goalkeeper, Jack Steffen didn’t cover himself in glory as the Cityzens conceded goals that would leave them wondering how, especially the second, that was swept home by Sadio Mane under the watch of Ederson’s assistant.

The American shot stopper dilly-dallied on the ball, Mane smelt blood and raced in on him to make it 2-0 after Ibrahim Konate had headed the Kops in front quite early in the game. City saw more of the ball but offered nothing going forward in the first half to threaten Alisson in the Liverpool goal.

Just two minutes into the second half, City conceded again and this time, it was a brilliant near post finish by Mane, his second of the evening that ultimately took the game away from the league leaders, but the Kops know better not to give City a sniff of a chance.

Gabriel Jesus scored a fine goal but it took a last gasp finish by Bernardo Silva to hand City real hopes but Liverpool held on to avoid a sensational comeback.

Chelsea were clear favorites against Crystal Palace but they had to be wary of Patrick Vieira who had lifted the FA Cup five times in the past, four times with Arsenal, including his last kick for the Gunners and once with Manchester City.

The first half ended goalless with Palace seeing the best chances. The Eagles missed Connor Gallagher who was ruled out due to the fact that he was loaned to Selhurst Park by Chelsea.

The second half saw Chelsea dominate and eventually made it count. Ruben Loftus Cheek lashed home from the edge of the box and Mason Mount wrapped up a fine move, set up by Timo Werner to book a place in the final against Liverpool.

The final would be the fourth time both sides would meet this season with the first two in the league ending in 1-1 and 2-2 draws respectively; they met in the Carabao Cup final and it was stalemate at full time as well with Kepa Arizabalaga firing wide of mark in the shootout to hand Liverpool the silverware.

As it stands, Liverpool are in for an unprecedented quadruple and that would mean something sensational for Jurgen Klopp and his Kops.