Man City vs Chelsea LIVE: FA Cup score, result and reaction as City cruise into fourth round
Man City 4-0 Chesea: Riyad Mahrez scores twice as City book a potential fourth-round tie with Arsenal
Riyad Mahrez struck twice as Manchester City eased to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup third round.
Three of the champions’ goals in a one-sided encounter at the Etihad Stadium came in a 15-minute spell late in the first half as Mahrez, Julian Alvarez - from the penalty spot - and Phil Foden all found the target. Mahrez added a fourth with City’s second penalty of the afternoon five minutes from time.
It was City’s second win over the out-of-form Londoners in the space of four days and piled on the frustration for their manager Graham Potter. After a run of just one win in seven in all competitions, Chelsea supporters booed their side and were also heard chanting the names of former owner Roman Abramovich and ex-manager Thomas Tuchel.
City have no such concerns and, as well as looking to reel Arsenal in at the top of the Premier League, could now be hosting them in the fourth round - if the Gunners can see off Oxford on Monday.
Relive the action as Manchester City host Chelsea in the FA Cup third round:
FT Man City 4-0 Chelsea
Early exits for Premier League teams
Eight Premier League clubs have been knocked out of the FA Cup at the third round stage this weekend.
Everton, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Newcastle United, Chelsea, and most recently Aston Villa have all lost their cup ties.
Aston Villa in particular will feel gutted. They were leading League Two’s Stevenage by a goal to nil with 87 minutes on the clock but just three minutes later and the Villans were behind 2-1, then out of the competition.
Sorry Chelsea slide to unwanted FA Cup history as Manchester City secure thumping win
Sometimes making history is not a by-product of achievement but a sign of failure. As Chelsea lost to Manchester City for the second time in four days and the third in six games, they exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle for the first time in a quarter of a century. They had not gone out of both domestic cups before 9 January since the 1980s and, to all intents and purposes, they were eliminated before half-time. They may have beaten City in a Champions League final 19 months ago but, after five defeats in seven games, that feels like another era.
Runners-up last year, Chelsea have a habit of losing FA Cup finals, but not third-round matches. The previous time they went out at this stage, the late, lamented Gianluca Vialli scored twice. There was no such potency here.
In the context of Graham Potter’s increasingly dismal reign, Chelsea’s tame exit felt altogether unsurprising and it was sealed by three goals in 16 minutes, courtesy of a combination of a needless error and City brilliance. Some of their fans left at half-time; those who stayed displayed their dissent against the new regime. Meanwhile, City cruised into the fourth round where Arsenal could await. They should provide a rather stiffer test than Chelsea did.
Sorry Chelsea slide to unwanted FA Cup history as Man City secure thumping win
Man City 4-0 Chesea: Mahrez scored a stunning free-kick and a penalty as City booked a potential fourth-round tie with Arsenal
Post-match reaction from Riyad Mahrez
Manchester City’s matchwinner, Riyad Mahrez, spoke to the BBC after his side swept Chelsea aside 4-0 in the FA Cup third round.
“It’s good to have played the way we played, to score four goals and keep a clean sheet, it’s a good day for us.” he said, “I was going to take the first penalty but Julian [Alvarez] asked me so of course he took it. He’s a striker, he needs goals so it’s good for him. The second one, I wanted to take it.
“Everyone has been involved and it has been very good. Every season we try to be involved in every competition. We’re still in all the competitions and have to keep going.”
Man City face potential Arsenal tie in FA Cup fourth round
Manchester City will play the winner of Oxford against Premier League leaders Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round.
Tottenham will travel to Preston, while holders Liverpool, who escaped with a replay against Wolves on Saturday, face an away trip to Brighton should they prevail at Molineux.
While League Two’s Walsall will play the 2021 winners Leicester.
FA Cup 2023 fourth road draw:
Man City vs Chelsea winner faces potential Arsenal tie in FA Cup
The holders Liverpool must get past Wolves in a third round replay with a trip to Brighton on the cards
FT Man City 4-0 Chelsea
Riyad Mahrez was awarded the man of the match thanks to his two goals and persistent threa throughout the game.
Mahrez now now been directly involved in 200 goals for English clubs. He recorded 48 goals and 36 assists in 179 appearances for Leicester City and has 71 goals and 45 assists in 211 appearances for Manchester City.
FT Man City 4-0 Chelsea
After that win Manchester City will now face either Oxford or Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup. They play their third round tie tomorrow night.
Will we see the top two teams in the Premier League facing each other in the cup?
Full-time: Man City 4-0 Chelsea
90+2 mins: A confident, comfortable victory for Manchester City.
From the moment Riyad Mahrez’s first half free kick hit the back of the net Manchester City looked certain of going through and Chelsea’s pain was added to by Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden before the break.
It’s now seven games without a win for Chelsea who are in a real rut right now. Graham Potter has a lot of work to do to change their fortunes.
Man City 4-0 Chelsea
90 mins: Two minutes of added time to play in this one.
In the other FA Cup third round game taking place right now, League Two’s Stevenage have come from behind to lead 2-1 against the Premier League’s Aston Villa with mere minutes left on the clock.
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