Jurgen Klopp says 'nobody has to feel sorry for us' after Liverpool exit FA Cup

Goals from Willian and Ross Barkley at Stamford Bridge see Chelsea progress to quarter-finals

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp looks on during the FA Cup fifth round match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. EPA

Chelsea forward Willian, left, in action against Andrew Robertson of Liverpool. EPA

Chelsea's Willian opened the scoring against Liverpool on 13 minutes. Reuters

Mason Mount of Chelsea in action against Neco Williams of Liverpool. EPA

Liverpool defender Neco Williams vies with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount. AFP

Liverpool's Curtis Jones, right, defends the ball from Chelsea's Willian. Reuters

Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour in action against Liverpool's Curtis Jones. right. AFP

Chelsea's Billy Gilmour in action with Liverpool's Curtis Jones. Reuters

Liverpool's Sadio Mane controls the ball. Reuters

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp watches the action from the touchline. EPA

Ross Barkley of Chelsea scores to make it 2-0 during the second half at Stamford Bride. EPA

Ross Barkley of Chelsea scores to make it 2-0 during the second half at Stamford Bride. AFP

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount chases Liverpool's Japanese midfielder Takumi Minamino. AFP

Ross Barkley of Chelsea in action. EPA

Chelsea's Marcos Alonso clears the ball. Reuters

Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard congratulates midfielder Mason Mount after the 2-0 win over Liverpool. AFP

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp watches his players warm up. AFP

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds the fans at the end of the match. AFP

Jurgen Klopp said he is confident Liverpool can overcome their mini slump that has seen them lose for the first time in the Premier League and exit the FA Cup at the hands of Chelsea.

The German made seven changes to the side beaten for the first time in 45 league games at Watford on Saturday for the trip to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

And while Takumi Minamino, Curtis Jones, Neco Williams may not be household names, Klopp fielded a much stronger line up than the youthful teams that had seen off Everton and Shrewsbury Town to reach the fifth round.

However, goals from Willian and Ross Barkley gave Frank Lampard's Chelsea a much-needed lift.

"Losing 2-0 is not good, but it is relatively easy to explain. We made two massive mistakes around the goals," said Klopp.

With a 22-point cushion over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, only a catastrophic collapse over the final 10 games will prevent Liverpool from claiming a first English title since 1990.

The Reds face Bournemouth at home on Saturday, but with a 1-0 last-16 Champions League deficit against Atletico Madrid to overturn at Anfield next week, Liverpool run the risk of their competitive campaign coming to an early end once the title is sewn up unless they can beat the Spanish side.

"It is not the best three weeks of the whole season but it is a chance to make it the best three weeks now and that is the plan," added Klopp.

"Nobody has to feel sorry for us, we will win football games and that is what we want to do on Saturday."

Klopp bristled when asked how the coronavirus might affect his side during the title run in. The virus has killed over 3,000 people globally and infected almost 91,000, prompting a number of clubs in Europe to ask their players, staff and officials not to shake hands in an attempt to slow its spread.

"It's not important what famous people say. You have to speak about things in the right manner. Not people with no knowledge, like me, talking about something," Klopp added.

"People with knowledge should tell the people to do this, do that and everything will be fine, or not. Not football managers. I don't understand politics, coronavirus ... why me? I wear a baseball cap and have a bad shave."

A run of five wins in 16 league games and a 3-0 thrashing at home by Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie last week meant the pressure was on Chelsea to keep their hopes of silverware this season alive.

"We are not the Chelsea of different eras gone by with [Eden] Hazard and [Diego] Costa, [John] Terry and [Didier] Drogba, we've got younger players but we are trying to bridge the gap upwards," said Lampard.

"I can't ask for any more in the spirit, work ethic and quality. You have got to defend very well to keep a clean sheet against them."

Chelsea got the lift they needed from the opening goal as Liverpool's understudy goalkeeper Adrian undid the good work of a brilliant save from Willian within a minute.

The Brazilian was gifted possession again just outside the Liverpool box and this time Adrian could only turn his powerful drive into the bottom corner.

England international Barkley doubled Chelsea's lead in spectacular style midway through the second half as he galloped forward from inside his own half before smashing past Adrian from outside the area.