Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott believes their challenge for the Premier League and in Europe will benefit from a disappointing FA Cup exit to Manchester United as it will free up space in the calendar.

The 20-year-old tried to put a positive spin on their chaotic 4-3 extra-time quarter-final defeat at Old Trafford by suggesting it will allow them extra days for recovery.

Manager Jurgen Klopp admitted in the aftermath of defeat it was the first time he had seen his players struggle physically as they played their 46th game of a season which has at least another 12 fixtures and potentially more if they get past Atalanta in the Europa League’s last eight.

The cup exit equates to, at most, only two fewer games but it does mean their league match at Fulham scheduled for April 20 will not be shunted into midweek, especially as the club still have a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park to fit in.

“Now we can focus on other things, it frees up a few weeks for us,” said Elliott, who came off the bench to put Liverpool 3-2 up in extra time.

“Not as many games any more so the lads can be fresh and we can recover properly and focus on the rest of the season.”

The defeat was only Liverpool’s third in domestic competition this season, and of the two they lost in Europe one was a dead rubber against Union Saint-Gilloise.

However, while it was a blow, especially losing to their arch-rivals, Elliott insists the players will not allow it to put a dent in their ambitions for the rest of the season.

“Our confidence is always there, it isn’t going to affect us at all,” he added.

“Yeah, we’re going to be annoyed that we didn’t win but we’re going away with internationals now, so we can forget about it and come back after the break fresh again ready to crack down and fight for the rest of the season.

“Confidence-wise it’s not going to do anything to us because we had the game in our hands, had many chances but just didn’t put them away.

“It’s always going to be there and we just need to keep going as a team.”

Klopp has seen enough of his squad, especially some of their comebacks this season to snatch late victories, to be confident they will not allow the setback to derail them when they return at home to Brighton on March 31.

“We’ve played football for ages and you lose games – if that always leads to a mental state or situation where you need help… it’s just a normal thing,” he said.

“We all fail on a daily basis, maybe without even recognising it – we just get along with it.

“I got the question already (about) what kind of reaction I expect now. Nothing, they go to their countries and I hope they come back and have nothing (injury-wise) and then we think about Brighton when they come back.

“In general the team is in an outstanding situation in the moment. That we got through all of these different, difficult situations is absolutely exceptional.”

Carney Chukwuemeka extols influence of ‘big brother’ Raheem Sterling after jeers

Carney Chukwuemeka praised “big brother” Raheem Sterling after the England forward endured a mixed afternoon during Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Leicester.

Sterling left the field late in the second half to a smattering of applause but also audible boos, with fans near the Stamford Bridge dugout having implored manager Mauricio Pochettino to substitute him.

Earlier he had missed two golden chances to help wrap up the game, which Chelsea eventually won 4-2 with stoppage-time goals from substitutes Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke.

He received scorn from sections of the home support for taking the ball out of the hands of regular penalty taker Cole Palmer after winning a first-half spot-kick, which he subsequently saw saved by Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.

And there was further ire when he whacked a free-kick from 20 yards high into the stand behind the goal, with Pochettino loudly jeered as he opted to withdraw Mykhailo Mudryk – who had a fine game – rather than Sterling in the 78th minute.

The 29-year-old England international was eventually replaced four minutes from the end.

Match-winner Chukwuemeka, who netted his first Stamford Bridge goal to make it 3-2 two minutes into added time, made a robust defence of Sterling, citing him as a key influence amongst Chelsea’s young squad.

“Raheem is an experienced player, he’s had an amazing career,” he said. “We know what a great footballer he is. He’s contributed to goals, assists, won so many penalties for the team this season.

“It happens. He’s human. Players miss chances, have an off day. We stay behind him. He still got an assist for Cole’s goal (which put Chelsea 2-0 up).

“For us youngsters, especially me, Noni and Cole, he’s helped us a lot since we came. He’s always on us, showing us what we can do better, what we can improve on, outside of football as well as in.

“He’s a big part. He’s like my big brother.”

It was just Chukwuemeka’s second goal for Chelsea since joining from Aston Villa in August 2022.

The 20-year-old underwent surgery on a knee injury in August, returning to action only in February.

His goal to effectively settle the tie against Leicester came after a sublime flick to set him up by Palmer, who was excellent again.

“(Palmer) makes a massive difference,” said Chukwuemeka. “Even in training we’re always finding each other, we’re linking up well. As soon as I played it to him, I knew I was getting it back.

“He even told me before he game that when I come on he’s going to assist me. We have that combination together which is good. Hopefully we can build on it.

“I never lost faith and belief in myself. Even when I got injured, I just thought it was a bump in the road, a trial that I need to overcome.

“I know what I can do and hopefully I can keep showing everyone.”

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Welcome to Chelsea - the most confusing club in English football
Chelsea into FA Cup semi-finals following 4-2 win against Leicester
Victory came following 90 minutes of chaos which included fan revolt against Raheem Sterling and spectacular own goal from Axel Disasi
Mauricio Pochettino is doing all he can to find calm in the chaos of the club's project

By Sean Walsh
11:30 AM GMT
Chelsea just about advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals
Chelsea just about advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals / GLYN KIRK/GettyImages
FROM STAMFORD BRIDGE - Chelsea are brilliant, terrible, fantastic and self-destructive in equal measure.

For a club that has won multiple Champions Leagues and Premier Leagues - in the recent past, as well - this is perhaps their most impressive feat. How a consistent contender has stooped to this level in a couple of years is incredible.

Doubts about the club's vision under BlueCo and Todd Boehly's ownership won't disappear until they return to that former standard. Judging by the Blues' body of work since their takeover, this might not be for a while.

Why Chelsea went in this direction remains unclear, and the confusion about their project has spilled over onto the pitch.

The Blues reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a thrilling 4-2 victory at home to Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, but it was not a straightforward task for Mauricio Pochettino's side despite their dominance.

Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling
It was another manic day at Stamford Bridge / Mike Hewitt/GettyImages
Chelsea raced into the lead through Marc Cucurella, who rounded off a swift attack which saw Nicolas Jackson frighten the pants off of Leicester's retreating defenders before crossing for the Spaniard to tap in at the far post.

When Raheem Sterling was hauled down by Abdul Fatawu inside the 18-yard box, it looked for all the world that Chelsea would stroll to victory. But Sterling - for some reason instead of the usual Cole Palmer - rolled the penalty down the middle and goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk denied him.

That brought the agitation out at Stamford Bridge, that tetchy feeling that has existed and grown in this part of west London in recent times. Sterling set up Palmer for Chelsea's second before the break but they were now in an irksome mood. It didn't help that goalkeeper Robert Sanchez - given a rare chance to impress to win back his starting role - was a bag of nerves even when he was never faced with any real danger across the 90 minutes.

Chelsea's two-goal lead at half-time should have seen them to a comfortable victory, but this young and developing side still haven't figured out how to keep their composure for a full 90 minutes. This time, it was one of their more senior players in Axel Disasi who was at fault, scoring a calamitous own goal trying to pass back to Sanchez and not realising his goalkeeper was way off his line.

That's been a consistent problem with this Chelsea team. No matter how great they can be, they'll always find a way to gift their opposition a route into the contest.

Stamford Bridge was now not just agitated, but furious. The 6,000 travelling Leicester fans shouted 'shoot' at Disasi every time he was on the ball, and he crumbled on each occasion, his error still clearly at the forefront of his thinking.

When Stephy Mavididi cut in from the left and wrapped the ball around Disasi like a training cone and into Sanchez's top corner, the palpable angst turned into tangible fury. Chelsea supporters close to the dugout shouted obscenities towards Pochettino and his players, notably Sterling, who skied a free-kick into the upper tier of the Matthew Harding end just after Leicester were reduced to ten men and the tie seemed to be edging back the hosts' way.

Pochettino's decision to bring off Mykhailo Mudryk first and not Sterling further stoked the fire. "You don't know what you're doing!" was chanted across the three stands containing home fans. To the Argentine's credit, he did then hook the England winger and his substitutes - Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke - scored the stoppage-time goals that sent Chelsea to Wembley.

This 90 minutes in particular was the perfect encapsulation of who Chelsea are right now. They are dashing and electric, exciting and watchable, but they will always be underpinned by their immaturity and emotion, their muddled search for cohesion. There has never been a project in football as paradoxical as theirs.

Pochettino hasn't done a spectacular job in his first year in charge to this point, but few other coaches would find it easier in these circumstances. Perhaps the chaos of the journey is what should be embraced rather than believing in the promise of eventual glory - only one of these things is guaranteed with this Chelsea.

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