Gianluca Vialli scored twice the last time Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round a quarter of a century ago, losing 5-3 against Manchester United.
Vialli and his teammates were five down at Stamford Bridge that day, but wouldn’t relinquish their hold on the trophy without a fight.
We paid tribute to the late and much-loved Italian before kick-off at the Etihad on Sunday, and how Graham Potter could have done with some of that courage and character as Chelsea surrendered meekly. Their fans were unafraid to make their feelings known, too.
A dominant Manchester City tore Chelsea apart to win their third round FA Cup tie 4-0 on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium
Tributes were paid to late Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli – who passed away this week – before the game in Manchester
Chelsea players warmed up with the number nine of the back of their shirts as another tribute to the former forward
The confidence drained from Potter’s side almost the moment Manchester City went ahead with an excellent free kick from Riyad Mahrez midway through the first half. They put up little resistance after that, mustering just a solitary shot on target.
Yes, Potter was missing up to 10 senior players through injury but this was hardly a one-off. A second defeat to City in the space of four days was also Chelsea’s sixth in their last nine games.
Including a Carabao Cup exit to Pep Guardiola’s team in November, the new manager has now lost three times to City since arriving from a Brighton by an aggregate score of 7-0. Mahrez has scored four of them. If Roman Abramovich was still in power, we might already be referring to Potter as the old manager.
Riyad Mahrez scored twice in the game as he impressed on the right-wing after being handed a start by Pep Guardiola
Chelsea manager Graham Potter was almost powerless as his side were outfought, outplayed and outclassed on the day
The 47-year-old is convinced that Abramovich’s successors Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali understand the situation and will give him time, but you can only stretch the patience of owners and fans so far. No manager gets a free pass.
The travelling Chelsea supporters let Potter know what they thought of it all on Saturday as they chanted the name of his predecessor Thomas Tuchel. The pressure will only build from here and he faces a very uncomfortable trip down the road to Fulham on Thursday.
Of course, it can be harsh to measure anyone against Manchester City, even one that was under-strength in the absence of Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne and several others.
The champions were even more dominant here than they were at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night, surging into a 2-0 lead after half an hour and then largely coasting into the fourth round where they will meet the winners of Monday’s tie between Arsenal and Oxford United at the end of the month.
Mahrez’ free kick in the second half found Kepa Arrizabalaga’s top corner via a deflection off Conor Gallagher’s head
The Algerian continued his fine form against the London club, having scored four goals in his last three games against them
Mahrez was the pick of the bunch, adding to his Premier League winner on Thursday and Carabao Cup opener in November with another couple of goals. The first of them arrived in the 23rd minute.
Lewis Hall was penalised for fouling Mahrez and the Algerian got up to take it himself, slightly to the right of goal 25 yards out. His curling attempt took a slight nick off the head of Conor Gallagher as it flew into the top corner.
Julian Alvarez doubled City’s lead from the spot seven minutes later and it already felt as though the contest was over.
Phil Foden swung over a corner from the left and Kai Havertz rose to challenge Aymeric Laporte. For some reason, the German chose to lead with his left arm and it clearly made contact with the ball. Referee Robert Jones was advised by VAR official John Brooks to consult the monitor and didn’t need to look twice.
Kai Havertz could only watch as his bizarre handball was pulled up by VAR to award City their first penalty of the game
Julian Alverez slotted home from the spot on his return to the side following his World Cup win with national side Argentina
Kepa (right) tried to put Alvarez off before the kick was taken, and almost managed to keep the low effort out
In the away dugout, Potter scrunched up his face and squinted as he studied a replay and then sat back with a look of resignation.
Mahrez could have taken that one too but left it to Julian Alvarez. ‘Julian asked me so of course he took it,’ said Mahrez. ‘He’s a striker, he needs goals so it’s good for him.’
Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga tried to put Alvarez off, leaning down to get in the Argentine’s face as he placed the ball on the spot, and it nearly worked. Alvarez squeezed his penalty inside the post but the keeper got a hand to the ball and almost kept it out.
When Foden made it 3-0 in the 38th minute, converting from close range after a patient passing move that ended with Rodri spraying the ball crossfield for Mahrez to feed Kyle Walker on the overlap, Chelsea were staring humiliation in the face.
Phil Foden also netted after starring in a central role and won the second penalty of the game late on, which made it 4-0
It could – perhaps would – have got far worse in the second half had Potter not shored things up and City eased off the gas a little. The Chelsea boss made a double substitution at half-time, sending on new signing David Datro Fofana and Denis Zakaria, and again in the 73rd minute when Cesar Azpilicueta and Omari Hutchinson were introduced.
Mason Mount produced Chelsea’s only shot on target 10 minutes after the restart, briefly troubling goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to make a save at last as he touched the ball around the post.
Mahrez went just as close at the other before he rounded off the scoring in the 85th minute when he was at the front of the queue for City’s second penalty of the day.
Foden raced onto Bernardo Silva’s pass and was upended by a clumsy challenge by the hapless Kalidou Koulibaly. No need for VAR this time. Mahrez’s finish was more convincing than Alvarez’s, blasted high into the net.
So for the second time in a week, Potter had to offer his congratulations to Guardiola. He’ll be glad to see the back of him. Chelsea and City don’t meet for a fourth time until May.
Re-live Sportsmail’s live blog for the FA Cup third-round clash between Manchester City and Chelsea below.
Extremely, extremely comfortable for City.
Very good from them. Very bad from Chelsea. Lots to ponder.
A Mahrez brace, Foden and Alvarez see Guardiola’s side on their way. Good stuff.
That’s it from me, stay tuned on the site for reaction and the report. See ya!
90 +3′: Rampant.
90 +1′: Two minutes added on. Mahrez gets Player of the Match in the ground.
89′: City and Chelsea fans are enjoying a bit of to and fro in the crowd.
‘Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that’ from the Chelsea fans.
‘Erling Haaland, he’s scored more than you’ comes back. Fact.
Nearly at 90 minutes.
87′: Mahrez fires high down the middle and Kepa is nowhere near it.
Alvarez still on the pitch but that should help Mahrez, who had missed three of his last four spot kicks, took that one to get his confidence back, one would assume.
Lewis is on for Silva for City.
85′: Yep.
84′: Yep, that’s a penalty.
Foden is fed by Silva and Koulibaly gets nowhere near it, tripping Foden.
Mahrez to take this time!
79′: Hutchinson picks up the ball in space again on the right and tries to find Chukwuemeka. It’s a bad pass though, and Walker cleans up.
Chelsea fans cheer as Zakaria has a shot blocked by Akanji over the bar. That might be their first shot on target.
Actually, I think it was off.
75′: Azpilicueta breaks and has some space down the right but he’s unable to find Fofana.
Hutchinson picks it up on the right and tries to cut in and shoot himself, but it’s poor and dribbles wide.
‘We’ve had a shot!’ sing the Chelsea fans. Their second of the game, but none on target.
73′: Mahrez is for some reason allowed to cut inside and he curls an effort at goal, with Kepa only able to watch. So close.
Carney Chukwuemeka is on for Chelsea, replacing Mount.
The youngster was really good on Thursday and is quite unlucky not to have started tonight.
Bernardo Silva is booked and Chelsea break. Hutchinson feeds Azpilicueta, but the veteran’s pass is out for a goal kick.
68′: City are just keeping the ball really well, which is all they need to do.
Chelsea have been outplayed, outclassed and outfought.
But there’s still over 20 minutes to go. So who knows?
63′: Chelsea have their first shot on goal as Ortega has to push away Mount’s free kick.
A few changes to report, too. Rodri, who was booked, and Gomez have come off for City, replaced by Joao Cancelo and Kalvin Phillips, while Ziyech and Jorginho have been replaced by Azpilicueta and Hutchinson for Chelsea.
Conor Gallagher has also been booked.
52′: A slow start again to this half but nothing to worry City.
Hall gives away possession but Chalobah saves his opposite full-back and shields the ball out for a goal kick.
Looks like Gallagher is helping out on the right in a bit more of a fluid defensive formation.
46′: We’re back underway.
Potter has made two changes – Havertz and Kovacic off, Zakaria and Fofana – for his debut – on.
I feel for Chelsea fans. They’ve obviously got a few young players out there but they are so, so much worse than City. They’ve had their issues going forward and it’s really on show here.
Who knows what this one will finish?
45 +3′: Well, it started slow but City really turned on the style and deservedly lead through Mahrez, Alvarez and Foden.
Chelsea are absolutely miles off it. It could be anything if Potter doesn’t sort his side out.
Plenty to ponder for the Blues.
45 +1′: It’s so, so nearly four.
City come forward well and Palmer finds Mahrez on the left. His cross is just in front of Alvarez, who was waiting to poke into an open net.
Jorginho then gifts City a corner with a mis-placed pass.
Two minutes added on.
44′: Foden get the ball in the box yet again and tries to play through Alvarez but it’s blocked by Gallagher.
This’ll be 4-0 before it’s 3-1. Everything is going wrong for Chelsea.
41′: That is a truly majestic goal.
Guardiola’s side have turned on the style. Great possession, great play, great finish.
Rodri switches the ball to Mahrez on the right and Kyle Walker’s run is fantastic. He’s played in, and his cross is poked home by Foden. Easy as you like.
39′: It’s three, and it’s Foden!
37′: City have another chance here with a free kick on the edge of the box.
Mahrez shoots again but Kepa punches away. Chelsea are miles off it here.
31′: The World Cup winner sticks his penalty right in the corner.
Kepa, who was trying to put him off with a conversation beforehand, gets a hand to it, but he can’t keep it out.
City are strolling now.
30′: Alvarez scores!
29′: Yep, clear as day. Kai Havertz has basically punched the ball to block Laporte’s header.
Alvarez to take.
29′: City get a corner and Laporte wins the header. Alvarez’ effort is blocked and there’s a VAR check for a potential handball…
Might be something in this…
25′: Hall gives away a needless free kick and Mahrez strikes from 25-30 yards, right of goal.
It takes a deflection but it’s in Kepa Arrizabalaga’s top corner. Fantastic strike.
City lead and the game comes alive.
24′: WHAT A STRIKE! RIYAD MAHREZ!
22′: Well! Chelsea suddenly go long as Humphreys looks for Ziyech. The ball runs through to Ortega but it looks like Gomez has taken out Ziyech out of nowhere.
A quick VAR check but nothing going. Weird one.
20′: The Etihad pitch is looking a nice shade of green.
Sorry, there is a game going on and something has happened. Cole Palmer is in down the left after Kepa retreats from an over-the-top ball. The shot hits the side netting. Chelsea get away with one.
17′: City are dominating the ball but literally nothing is happening. Very different to the other night.
Mount breaks but can’t get the ball out his feet.
13′: Mahrez gets the better of Hall down the City right but Kepa is there to gather his cross.
Gomez does really well on the left and the ball comes in and there’s a bit of pinball. Alvarez and Foden are involved, but referee Robert Jones blows his whistle for a foul of sorts.
9′: Ortega almost gets caught out trying to play out with Rodri under pressure but the Spain midfielder is fouled by Havertz.
Rodri is down, but he’ll be ok.
6′: Chelsea play the ball around the back nicely before Koulibaly gives the ball away.
Ziyech then tries to play through Havertz put the pass is poor.
Kepa is then out to sweep and wins his side a throw off Alvarez.
4′: A quiet start in Manchester, with Humphreys getting stuck in at centre-back on what is his professional debut.
There’s a good atmosphere in the ground, which is positive.
1′: Chelsea get us underway at the Etihad.
An impeccable minute’s applause is carried out in memory of the late Gianluca Vialli.
An emotional day for all involved at Chelsea, whose players warmed up in number nine shirts in his honour.
Right, the teams are on their ways out.
Let’s see how this one goes. Looking forward to it!
Just to run you through today’s results quickly… I’ll pick out the good ones!
There weren’t too many huge ties today but Derby have hammered Barnsley 3-0 and Leeds fought back from 2-0 down to earn a replay against ten-man Cardiff.
Of course we have City vs Chelsea to come, as well as Aston Villa vs Stevenage.
Before we get underway at the Etihad we have the fourth round draw with Mark Chapman, Karen Bardsley and Emile Heskey.
16 ties to be drawn – you can follow updates below.
David Datro Fofana is on the Chelsea bench today after completing his £8million move from Molde earlier this week.
Blues fans can be excited by the 20-year-old. He has talent, and is one for the future, but may be called on this year with the Blues struggling for goals. I’m sure he’ll get on today.
Centre-half Benoit Badiashile, who has arrived for £35million from Monaco, is also on the bench.
City look strong. And it helps they’re at home.
Expect them to dominate proceedings, are probably be a bit better than Thursday.
Good to see Aymeric Laporte back in the starting XI after injury, too.
Chelsea know they’re up against it today.
Even with a rotated side, Manchester City have an incredible team, probably the best the world has to offer.
Don’t write the Blues off, though. They will back themselves to get something from this.
Graham Potter, meanwhile, has made six changes from Thursday’s game.
Azpilicueta, Silva, Cucurella, Zakaria, Sterling and Pulisic drop out, with Chalobah, Hall, Jorginho, Gallagher, Mount and 19-year-old Bashir Humphreys, who makes his debut for the club, in.
City first, then.
Pep Guardiola makes seven changes from the win over Chelsea on Thursday.
Ortega, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez, Palmer, Mahrez and Alvarez come in for Ederson, Ake, Stones, Gundogan, De Bruyne, Cancelo and Haaland.
Jack Grealish – who is ill – is not in the squad.
A fair amount of firepower on the bench.
Kepa, Humphreys, Chalobah, Koulibaly, Hall, Jorginho, Kovacic, Ziyech, Gallagher, Mount, Havertz.
Subs: Bettinelli, Azpilicueta, Badiashile, Cucurella, Silva, Chukwuemeka, Zakaria, Hutchinson, D. Fofana.
Ortega, Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez, Rodri, Silva, Palmer, Mahrez, Alvarez, Foden.
Subs: Ederson, Phillips, Stones, Ake, Cancelo, Gundogan, Haaland, De Bruyne, Lewis.
Some more team news for you… it’s believed Erling Haaland isn’t in the City XI.
So many games, so few days. He had to be rested at some point.
Kevin de Bruyne is also set to be on the bench. I’ll have full team news for you in five-or-so minutes.
Graham Potter has hit back at critics of his ‘relaxed’ personality by confessing he purposely hides his anger, but admits he does get frustrated in his role as Chelsea manager.
Potter is under mounting pressure following a run that has seen the Blues win one of their last eight Premier League games.
‘I hide it well’, the Blues boss confessed.
‘You see me here, and this isn’t actually me all the time. So, of course there are times where you get cross and you get angry, it’s not like I’m just some robot just talking to this tin can. Of course there’s stuff that happens.’
Read our full story below!
Mason Mount missed the game on Thursday through injury but he’s set to start today at the Etihad.
It’s believed Conor Gallagher also starts, with Potter seemingly set to rotate his first-choice side.
He’s had to deal with several injuries of late, with Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic pulling up in the first half three days ago.
N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Ben Chilwwell are just some of the other names absent right now from the side.
It’s about making the most of things, I guess, but you have to feel for Potter.
The two teams are probably sick of the sight of eachother.
This is the second time in three days they’ve faced off, but they also clashed in the Carabao Cup earlier this season, and still have to play each other in the league. That’s without mentioning a potential Champions League clash.
It doesn’t get too much harder for either side but, for Chelsea in particular, one eye will be on league fixtures after this game. Potter’s side face Fulham and Crystal Palace in their next two games and will have their sights set on six points to get their season back up and running.
For City, they will face Southampton in the Carabao Cup quarters on Wednesday before a derby against United next weekend, a trip to Spurs the following midweek then a game against Wolves a few days after that.
It’s a busy one for the English champions. That Spurs game will have to be rearranged if this game is a draw because of a replay… the last thing Guardiola will want.
As you’d expect, City are in good form going into this one with two wins and a draw to their names since the end of the World Cup.
They lost ground on league leaders Arsenal with a draw versus Everton on New Year’s Eve, but cut the gap to five points again last weekend as Arsenal drew with Newcastle.
For Chelsea, it’s hard going. They were good against City in the week but were second best against Nottingham Forest last weekend and are proving to be a bit inconsistent under Potter.
A win here would do wonders for the side, but City at the Etihad? I’m not sure it gets much tougher.
So these two sides faced off on Thursday in the Premier League, with City coming out on top as 1-0 winners thanks to a Riyad Mahrez goal.
But that doesn’t tell the whole story. City were poor in the first half and Chelsea were unlucky not to lead, before Pep Guardiola changed things at the break and his side got more of a foothold in the game.
But Blues boss Graham Potter introduced several young stars later in the game as his side pushed, but they were unable to find an equaliser as their struggled in front of goal continued.
We’ll see if today is any different.
Good afternoon! Welcome to Sportsmail’s live coverage of Manchester City vs Chelsea in the FA Cup third round this afternoon.
My name’s Lewis Browning and I’ll be with you through to full time as two giants clash for the second time in a number of days.
It should be a good one. Kick off is scheduled for 4:30pm GMT!
Sportsmail Reporter
Host commentator