FA Cup

FA Cup holders Chelsea have been drawn at home to Championship side Nottingham Forest in the third round of the 2018-19 FA Cup.

Elsewhere, Arsenal face either non-league side Solihull Moors or Blackpool, Manchester United will welcome Reading to Old Trafford, and Premier League champions Manchester City host Rotherham United.

There are also a couple of all-Premier League ties in the draw. Wolverhampton Wanderers will host Liverpool, while Bournemouth take on Brighton & Hove Albion.

FA Cup 3rd-Round Fixtures

Bolton Wanderers vs. Walsall or Sunderland

Millwall vs. Hull City

Gillingham vs. Cardiff City

Brentford vs. Oxford United

Sheffield Wednesday vs. Luton Town

Manchester United vs. Reading

Everton vs. Lincoln City

Tranmere or Southport vs. Tottenham

Preston vs. Doncaster Rovers

Newcastle United vs. Blackburn Rovers

Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest

Crystal Palace vs. Grimsby Town

Derby County vs. Southampton

Accrington Stanley vs. Ipswich Town

Bristol City vs. Huddersfield Town

Wrexham or Newport vs. Leicester City

Fulham vs. Oldham

Shrewsbury Town vs. Stoke City

Solihull Moors or Blackpool vs. Arsenal

Manchester City vs. Rotherham United

Bournemouth vs. Brighton

West Ham vs. Birmingham City

Woking vs. Watford

Burnley vs. Barnsley

QPR vs. Leeds United

Sheffield United vs. Barnet

Norwich City vs. Portsmouth

Guiseley or Fleetwood vs. AFC Wimbledon

West Brom vs. Wigan

Middlesbrough vs. Peterborough or Bradford

Wolves vs. Liverpool

Aston Villa vs. Swansea City

All matches are scheduled to be played over the weekend of Saturday, January 5. The full schedule is available from the competition's official website.

Chelsea will be favourites to beat Nottingham Forest, but history suggests they may face a tough challenge at Stamford Bridge:

One of the most intriguing ties is the prospect of tiny Solihull Moors taking on Arsenal.

The National League side, which competes in the fifth tier of English football, were only formed in 2007 and are in the third-round draw for the first time in their brief history.

They drew 0-0 with Blackpool at home in the second round, with the two sides set to replay at Bloomfield Road to decide who will face Unai Emery's men.

Match of the Day showed the Solihull Moors' reaction to the draw:

The Gunners will be hoping to improve on last season's showing. They were knocked out in the third round by Nottingham Forest in what was Arsene Wenger's last FA Cup match in charge.

The draw has been kind to both Manchester clubs. City will face a struggling Rotherham side who are 20th in the Championship, while United take on Reading who are a place below in 21st.

However, Liverpool face a far trickier tie at Wolves. Nuno Espirito Santo's side are 12th in the Premier League and have held both Manchester City and Arsenal to 1-1 draws this season.

Tottenham will also be confident of progressing to the fourth round. Mauricio Pochettino's men will head to Merseyside to face either National League side Southport or Tranmere Rovers from League Two (fourth tier).

Eden Hazard scored the only goal in Saturday's FA Cup final, as Chelsea ended their season on a high note with a 1-0 win over Manchester United.

The Belgian didn't fail from the penalty spot in the first half, and an uninspired United team was unable to hit back after the break.

Here are the key takeaways from the FA Cup final.

Mourinho's Mistake

At half-time, there was one question most United fans were probably asking: Why was Phil Jones playing ahead of Eric Bailly? The former Villarreal man has long been United's most consistent defender when healthy, and analysts had a hard time understanding why he was on the bench Saturday.

Ryan Baldi was one of them:

Jones' lack of pace saw him get beat by Hazard time after time in the first half, and the penalty was almost inevitable. Those are the kind of mistakes Bailly rarely makes, and it's baffling that Jose Mourinho opted not to start him.

VAR Won't Help If People Don't Know the Laws

Referee Michael Oliver had a big call to make in the first half, as Jones brought down Hazard inside the box, denying the Belgian a clear scoring opportunity. BBC's commentating team, as well as a number of fans and analysts, were furious when he didn't produce a red card for the United man, a key decision in the match.

Of course, Oliver got his decision spot on, as explained by Gary Lineker:

Amid all of the discussions involving VAR and other forms of instant replay, perhaps fans and analysts alike should start by reading up on the laws of the game before they criticise the officials.

Rashford Gamble Fails

Jones wasn't the only United man who stood out for the wrong reasons. Marcus Rashford was completely lost in the first half, as he got little service and did nothing with the chances he did get. He came close to scoring after the break, but goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois got in the way.

Fans were not impressed:

Mourinho has pushed him out wide often this year, and the England international no longer seems comfortable in the Romelu Lukaku role up top. It's a shame, because that's exactly where he shone when he first broke out for the Red Devils.

Bakayoko Gets the Last Laugh

Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko was a constant target for criticism during his first season in London, after he missed his start to the campaign and struggled with health.

The former Monaco man has quietly been one of the club's standout players the past few weeks, however, and things were no different at Wembley:

While Paul Pogba, one of his key opponents in midfield, was busy missing sitters and standing out for all the wrong reasons, Bakayoko was a constant nuisance near the ball. He's positioned himself perfectly for a breakout campaign next season and deserves a ton of credit for the way he has bounced back of late.

United Need a Big Summer

Alexis Sanchez was barely involved. Rashford couldn't replace Lukaku in the centre of attack. Pogba was uninspired, and there was no one to add a late dash of creativity or light a fire under the Frenchman when needed.

United have all the money in the world, but they have a ton of needs to address this summer. Between the left-back position, Mourinho's distrust of Bailly, a lack of creativity and no good backup option for Lukaku, the Red Devils will once again have to invest heavily.

Antonio Conte Will be a Wanted Man

There's little doubt Antonio Conte will depart Chelsea this summer after a disappointing second season in London. The Italian failed to secure UEFA Champions League qualification for next year, but he did win a Premier League title and FA Cup in his two years with the Blues and did a fine job shutting down United on Saturday.

It's unclear what's next for Conte, but if he decides he wants to coach again next year, he will have plenty of offers. He found instant success with both Juventus and Chelsea―clubs will value a man who can have such an impact.

What's Next?

The 2017-18 campaign has come to an end for all English clubs barring Liverpool, who will face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final on May 26. For United's and Chelsea's players, the focus turns to the 2018 FIFA World Cup―or pearly white beaches for those who didn't make the tournament.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho revealed on Friday that David De Gea will line up in goal in Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

De Gea's backup, Sergio Romero, played in every one of United's games in the competition prior to the semi-final showdown with Tottenham Hotspur. The Argentina international missed that match because of a knee injury.

While Romero has since returned from his layoff, Mourinho announced De Gea will get the nod for Saturday's game, per Sky Sports.

"[Romero] was injured for a long, long time," the Red Devils boss said. "He was injured for around two and something months. He didn't play some matches that normally would be his matches, his semi-final against Tottenham, a couple more matches before the final. ... It is not about trust. It is not about my confidence in him."

Romero has played in plenty of high-profile games for United in recent years, including last year's UEFA Europa League final.

He did feature on the final day of the Premier League season against Watford, and as Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News noted, the goalkeeper produced one exceptional save to deny Richarlison:

Still, that match meant little at the end of the league campaign, whereas the meeting with the Blues has the potential to define United's season.

The Red Devils lagged behind Manchester City in the race for the title this season, finishing as a distant runner-up. They have also had to watch on as rivals Liverpool have raced into the UEFA Champions League final, where they will meet Real Madrid.

United supporters would have hoped for more than the FA Cup when the 2017-18 season started. However, Ste Armstrong of fanzine United We Stand believes winning silverware of any sort shouldn't be sniffed at:

While Romero will be disappointed to miss out on starting in this showpiece fixture, the fact remains that United have a better chance of winning on Saturday with De Gea between the sticks.

As Sam Jackson of GK1 Info illustrated, the Spain international is capable of saves that no other goalkeeper in the Premier League can make:

De Gea's consistency never ceases to amaze, as he once again enjoyed an exceptional campaign. He is often on hand to bail out the Red Devils, providing a rock-solid platform the team have struggled to take full advantage of at times.

He has already won the Premier League, Europa League and the EFL Cup with United; victory at Wembley Stadium on Saturday would be his second FA Cup success with the Red Devils.

For many, Saturday represents the closing curtain of the 2017-18 English football season. 

It's the FA Cup final, set to be contested at Wembley Stadium by Chelsea and Manchester United, and although there are play-off matters from the lower leagues still to be decided, this game represents a key juncture in the summer.

Once this trophy is lofted high, either by Gary Cahill in blue or Antonio Valencia in red, attention can almost wholly shift to the FIFA World Cup. There is just one last top-level box to check, one final piece of silverware to be awarded.

Neither Chelsea nor United eased their way here. The Blues may have waltzed the semi-final against Southampton, but they were forced to extra time by Leicester City and even penalties by Norwich City in the earlier rounds. United experienced their own difficulties in overcoming Tottenham Hotspur in April too.

They are two sides who feel purpose-built for playing—and winning—finals. United have a stubborn streak under Jose Mourinho, while Chelsea are incredibly well-drilled by Antonio Conte. They are also both in desperate need of a victory, and each side will see this final as a way of salvaging their season.

If you're labelling one favourite, it's surely only by a hair; they are well-matched in terms of style, approach and difference-makers. The finer details may well decide this one, and we have plucked out three of those here.

The Fight To Be Reactive, Not Proactive

Both managers would likely vehemently disagree should the statement be presented to them, but the fact is Conte and Mourinho feel so comfortable without the ball that they seem to have their teams forego it on purpose at times.

It feels unlikely that either side will look to put their foot on the ball and control proceedings from a possession-based standpoint. Instead, this might develop into a consistent fight for the right to be reactive from a defensive position rather than proactive from an attacking one.

If that sounds like a criticism, it isn't. Both managers have reams of experience in high-pressure games, with Mourinho in particular famous for his masterful managing of these situations. Said managing often allies itself with a more cautious approach, resulting in spurts of attacks but rarely of consistent periods of them.

United will likely set out in a 4-3-3 formation featuring Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba in midfield—just like against Spurs in the semi-final. That trio balances out magnificently and is tailor-made for soaking up pressure and then driving forward from deep.

Chelsea seem likely to match up three vs. three in midfield with N'Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko and utilise Eden Hazard off Olivier Giroud in a 3-5-2. The latter two are dangerous when they combine but especially so when it's on the counter, surging into space.

Both sides' (and managers') preferences are clear, but who will win the first duel?

Right Half-Space Danger

During Chelsea's spells of possession and final-third occupancy, a clear trend will emerge—just as it has done all season long. They look to manipulate the right half-space and tease in angled crosses for Giroud to make use of.

Early in the season, this was done almost exclusively by Cesar Azpilicueta, whose outside centre-back role allows him to push forward and cross from a narrower, withdrawn position. His link-up with Alvaro Morata early in the season directly yielded six goals—all very similar—and there's something about the trajectory of balls in from that spot that proves incredibly effective.

In Morata's absence, Giroud has assumed the mantle and feels even more comfortable receiving these deliveries. Also, Conte's use of a three-man midfield has placed one player in that same half-space at all times, giving the Blues two options to swing in balls from that area. That second player is Fabregas.

Hazard's obvious individual brilliance aside, this is Chelsea's most dangerous attacking offering. Pressure must be applied to either Fabregas or Azpilicueta when they drift into that area with the ball at their feet. Mourinho's midfield setup will match Chelsea's, but Herrera or Pogba must be snappy and aggressive in fulfilling the role.

Jesse Lingard's Runs

Alexis Sanchez naturally stands out as United's star creative piece, but while his jinking dribbles and long-range shooting are known by all, some of what Lingard does is a little more subtle.

The United academy product is generally turned to on occasions such as this, with Wembley representing his own personal stomping ground of sorts. And it's his movement and darting runs off the ball that give United an extra dimension in attack.

Particularly, he likes to drift inside from the right when Valencia creeps forward on the right and then arrow between the centre-back and the full-back to receive the ball by the byline. Countless opportunities have been created using this method this season, and United can be a little static outside of Lingard's relentless search for space.

How this translates to a game in which United will face three centre-backs is interesting. The channels between the defenders aren't in the same place as they are with a back four, and those slightly wider areas will be busier, with the formation naturally adding a body to each side.

Lingard won't find the space he normally does when playing against a four, but he must adapt quickly and find another area to manipulate in order to begin stressing Chelsea's defence.

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Chelsea and Manchester United will look to end the season on a high when they battle it out for the FA Cup in Saturday's final at Wembley Stadium.

United manager Jose Mourinho is bidding for his third major trophy in a little under two years with the club, having won the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League last season.

As for Chelsea, after losing last year's FA Cup final to Arsenal, they will have extra incentive to go one better this time around.

Date: Saturday, May 19

Time: 5:15 p.m. BST/12:15 p.m. ET

TV: BBC One, BT Sport 2 (UK), Fox (U.S.)

Live Stream: BBC iPlayer, BT Sport App (UK), Fox Soccer Match Pass (U.S.)

United finished second in the Premier League this season, having gained 12 more points than they did last year, scored 14 more goals and conceded one less.

However, after a disappointing UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Sevilla in the round of 16 and ongoing concerns over their style of play, the perception of how successful their campaign has been could hinge on whether they pick up any silverware.

As Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News noted, the Red Devils have offered frequent reminders throughout the year that they are not where they aspire to be:

They have fared quite well against their closest rivals, though, particularly in recent months, as football writer Liam Canning highlighted:

They also beat Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup semi-final, meaning they have beaten each of the Premier League's other top-six finishers since their 2-1 win over Chelsea on February 25.

It bodes well for United ahead of their clash with the Blues, who are also in need of a positive end to the season after they missed out on the UEFA Champions League places.

Their disappointing Premier League efforts culminated in a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United on the final day.

ESPN FC's Liam Twomey was unimpressed:

While that result was rendered irrelevant in the context of the race for the top four because of Liverpool's 4-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion, the performance was far from an ideal warm-up for a cup final.

With places in the starting lineup at Wembley on the line, it was an especially disappointing effort from Chelsea's players.

If they are to salvage the campaign and beat United to the trophy, they will need to significantly improve on that showing.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is hopeful star forward Romelu Lukaku will be fit for the FA Cup final despite his recent injury layoff. 

While the Belgium international won't make United's final game of the Premier League season, against Watford, Mourinho said he hopes his striker will at least be part of the matchday squad when the Red Devils take on Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on May 19.

"We hope he can play in the final," said Mourinho, per the club's official website. "He is in Belgium having his treatment with communication between the doctors in Belgium and our medical department. We are just waiting to see if it's possible for him to be involved in the final. If not starting, then at least on the bench."

The forward picked up an ankle problem in the 2-1 win over Arsenal on April 29, and he was replaced by Marcus Rashford.

He has not featured in any game for the Red Devils since, and United have looked worse off as an attacking force as a result. In their past two away games, in particular, they have toiled, losing 1-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion and drawing 0-0 at West Ham United.

After the Brighton tussle, in which both Rashford and Anthony Martial started, Mourinho was critical of his forwards and referenced United's No. 9.

"For 10 months, I get asked 'why always Lukaku? Why always Lukaku? Why always this player?'," the United boss said, per BBC Sport. "'That guy doesn't have a chance to start, the other one is on the bench'. You know why now."

As Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News noted, it's clear the manager hasn't been impressed with Rashford and Martial during Lukaku's layoff:

Although there are times when Lukaku is criticised for his work rate, his hold-up play and his performance against big sides, in the main he's been excellent for United in his debut season.

Crucially, he offers a presence up front no other player in the squad can. He bullies defenders with his pace and power. And when chances come his way, Lukaku typically sticks them away, with 27 goals registered in all competitions this term.

The striker will be desperate to get back in time for this fixture against his former club. Lukaku starred against the Blues in a 2-1 win earlier in the campaign, scoring one and setting up the other for United.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane has called a tweet from the FA Cup account mocking him "silly," while a report has emerged suggesting England are concerned about the striker's fitness. 

After Spurs lost to Manchester United in the semi-final of the FA Cup on April 21, the account posted a message saying "what's in your pocket?" accompanied by a clip of Chris Smalling saying "Harry Kane."

The FA apologised for the post, and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said it was "embarrassing," per BBC Sport. Speaking about the matter, Kane is keen to put the whole saga behind him at this juncture.

"I talked to the gaffer about it and all he was saying was, 'would other countries do that to their own players?' Probably not," he said, per BBC Sport. "… The FA tweet was a silly tweet, we all know that. It is something that has gone, it was two weeks ago or whatever it was, I am over it. The gaffer said I was sad about it, but I am focused."

There have been some concerns about Kane's ankle after a recent layoff, and it's taken him a while to get up to full speed again. The England striker said he's feeling physically good ahead of the World Cup, though.

"The ankle is good," he said, per Adam Crafton of the Daily Mail. "It was good to score, and I had a couple of chances. I feel good. I am looking forward to the last three weeks."

However, according to Matt Hughes of The Times, there are fears from the England physios that the 24-year-old has been rushed back from the ankle problem he suffered in March, and that may hinder his performances in Russia.

In his piece, Hughes wrote: "England's medical staff are concerned that Harry Kane may have jeopardised his chances of being in peak physical condition at the World Cup by rushing back from injury too quickly last month.

...

"Kane has scored three goals in six appearances since returning, including Tottenham's second in their 2-0 win over Watford on Monday night, which has kept Mauricio Pochettino's side on course for a top-four finish, but his overall display was poor and many of his key performance indicators are significantly down on earlier in the season."

Kane has also been a figure of ridicule in recent weeks on social media. Not only did the FA jibe at him, the recent determination to see a goal against Stoke City awarded to himself at the expense of team-mate Christian Eriksen has also triggered jokes.

The Daily Mirror's John Cross suggested the criticism aimed at the striker has been over the top:

Meanwhile, former Arsenal and England forward Ian Wright said the jokes have become a little tiresome:

After netting against Watford in a 2-0 win on Monday, Kane spoke about why some England supporters may poke fun at their own players.

"It is strange, I think it is a mentality thing," he said. "It is easier these days to maybe banter England players or take the mick out of England players, if we don't do well in the (FIFA) World Cup it's, 'Oh we told you so'."

Kane is set to play a key part in England's charge at the World Cup this summer, as once again he's enjoyed a tremendous campaign, netting 27 Premier League goals.

While it's been a rocky patch for the striker recently, Goal reminded us after the Watford clash just how impressive he's been since bursting on to the scene:

Social media is unforgiving, especially when it comes to football fans. With that in mind, and given how high profile Kane now is, there was always going to come a spell when he was the butt of a few different jokes.

Now the Spurs man has had his say on the matter and made it clear he's looking to the future, talk of goals claimed and FA Cup tweets should die down. After all, if England are to make an impact at the summer spectacle in Russia, you feel a heavy goalscoring burden will fall on the shoulders of Kane.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho thinks Romelu Lukaku is likely to be fit to take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final despite suffering a foot injury on Sunday. 

The Belgian had to be withdrawn in the 49th minute in United's 2-1 win over Arsenal, but Mourinho is hopeful he'll be fit to play on May 19, per the Associated Press (h/t MailOnline):

"I don't think it's something, or I hope it's not, that in this moment keeps him immediately out of a game that is in three weeks' time. But I don't know. 

"He wants to play all the time. He is never tired and, when he has small things, he doesn't care. He still wants to go. So, for him to say immediately, to change him, it is because he couldn't play."

As Football.London's Charles Watts noted, the source of Lukaku's injury was a strong challenge from defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, who was making his Arsenal debut:

The 24-year-old is United's top scorer this season having netted 27 goals in all competitions, including five from as many FA Cup appearances.

Lukaku also has nine assists, which is the best return of his career in English football over the course of a single campaign.

Sport Witness' Tom Coast remarked on the striker's excellent delivery during the Arsenal win:

It makes Lukaku a multi-faceted threat in the final third and speaks to the improvement he has shown in linking up with his team-mates since his arrival at Old Trafford.

United are 11 points clear of FA Cup final opponents Chelsea—who occupy fifth place—after Sunday's win. Both sides have just three Premier League games remaining, so United are assured of a UEFA Champions League place.

As such, it matters relatively little if Lukaku is unable to feature in their final league matches, but United have a much better chance of beating the Blues at Wembley Stadium if he's in the side.

The striker will be eager to find the net against his former team, and he has almost three weeks to recover ahead of that meeting if he needs them.

Chelsea qualified for the final of the FA Cup on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Southampton, courtesy of goals from Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata.

Giroud opened the scoring early in the second half, and his replacement, Morata, added a late insurance goal. The Blues will meet Manchester United in the final on May 19.

Here are the key takeaways from the contest.

No Courtois

It wasn't a huge surprise to see cup goalkeeper Willy Caballero get the nod in goal for Chelsea, but Thibaut Courtois didn't take a spot on the bench, either, with Eduardo the back-up stopper.

The absence didn't appear to be down to health, according to Vaishali Bhardwaj of the Evening Standard:

One-Way Traffic at Wembley

Chelsea came out firing early and strung together several good chances in the first half, with Willian hitting the crossbar just seven minutes into the contest.

Eden Hazard and Giroud also had their looks, and Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe noted things were difficult for Saints:

The Blues' dominance resulted in the opening goal shortly after the restart, as Hazard beautifully set up Giroud, who used his quick feet to get past multiple defenders for the goal.

Giroud and the FA Cup

Speaking of Giroud, the Frenchman has built a fantastic record in the FA Cup over the years:

Long's Comical Miss

Southampton improved after Giroud's opener but failed to create a lot of chances. With few opportunities available, it was vital the team made the most of their chances, so when Shane Long rounded Caballero instead of pulling the trigger, fans were in disbelief.

Coral summed things up like this:

Cabellero's Heroics and Controversy

Former Manchester City stopper Caballero was anything but orthodox on Sunday, but the Argentinian made one key save, brilliantly keeping out a shot from Nathan Redmond. 

He clashed with Charlie Austin on the resulting corner, getting the foul when many fans and pundits believed it should have been a goal:

Morata Decisive

Morata made a late cameo and doubled the lead just minutes after coming on, guiding home a header from a Cesar Azpilicueta cross. 

What's Next

On Saturday, Chelsea visit Swansea City in the Premier League, while Southampton host Bournemouth.

Chelsea will meet Manchester United in the 2018 FA Cup final after beating Southampton 2-0 at Wembley Stadium on Sunday thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata.

The final will take place on May 19 at Wembley, with Chelsea having the chance to make up for losing last season's final to Arsenal. Meanwhile, 2016 winners United will be looking to lift the trophy for a record-equalling 13th time.

United booked their place in the final after coming from a goal down to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Saturday, with Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera getting on the scoresheet.

Schedule details for the showpiece match have yet to be released, but Alex Young of the London Evening Standard confirmed BT Sport and the BBC have broadcast rights in the UK. Fox Sports has coverage in the U.S.

Chelsea won after overcoming a drab first-half display. Specifically, the Blues struggled for ideas in front of Southampton's deep defensive wall.

Saints sat back in numbers and kept their discipline, although as BBC Match of the Day pointed out, they didn't show much ambition going forward during the opening 45 minutes:

In fairness to Southampton, their approach stymied the Blues, who despite seeing Willian hit the bar, offered little.

Chelsea needed a spark and got one 27 seconds after the restart, when Giroud produced some terrific footwork before finding the net.

The goal continued Giroud's habit of producing in the cup, as OptaJoe highlighted:

Sky Sports Statto showed where Giroud, who won the trophy three times with Arsenal, ranks for cup goals since moving to the Premier League from Montpellier HSC in 2012:

A quite brilliant save from Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero denied Nathan Redmond as Southampton piled on late pressure.

Chelsea lost some impetus when manager Antonio Conte elected to substitute Willian for destructive central midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko. Goal's Nizaar Kinsella noted the forward wasn't best pleased at being hooked:

Even so, a place in the final was Chelsea's six minutes from time, when Cesar Azpilicueta crossed for Morata to head in. Saints tried a late flurry, but they couldn't find a breakthrough against a resolute Chelsea side determined to make up for a miserable defence of the Premier League title by earning another chance for cup glory.

United will have something to say about that. The Red Devils are armed with a plethora of match-winners in Sanchez, a scorer against the Blues in last year's final, and Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku.

Conte has had his issues with United counterpart Jose Mourinho, while the two split their league encounters this season, with the Blues winning 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in November before losing 2-1 at Old Trafford in February.

Expect another close encounter when these familiar foes renew hostilities with silverware at stake.