Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool: Hits and Flops as the Blues defeat the Reds to secure quarter-final spot | FA Cup 2019-20

#4 Hit: Billy Gilmour

Gilmour oozed class in midfield and quickly justified Lampard's faith in starting him during a must-win tie

If you've had the pleasure of tracking Billy Gilmour's progress like some youth aficionados in recent years, you'll know that an unfazed, composed display from him in a game of huge significance was a long time coming. Gilmour has made fleeting sub debut appearances in the Premier League and FA Cup this term, but this was his first Chelsea start.

He oozed class and quickly justified why Lampard had faith in him to accompany Kovacic-Barkley in his three-man midfield. Unafraid to get stuck in, he won six of 11 duels and looked comfortable despite his slight 5'6 frame.

Making an important recovery challenge in first-half stoppage-time rather typified his desire and positional awareness: matching Mane stride-for-stride, before calmly removing danger to save Marcos Alonso's blushes after he was exposed in possession and almost gifted Liverpool a timely equaliser.

Billy Gilmour's game by numbers vs. Liverpool:77% pass accuracy62 touches37 passes completed5 tackles2 take-ons2 aerial duels2 clearances1 chance createdJust 18-years-old. 💎 pic.twitter.com/wmop3R202o

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 3, 2020

The Scotland Under-21 midfielder is still 18 until June but was recently promoted to Lampard's first-team squad on a permanent basis - two years on from the highly-rated teenager's move from Rangers. Now officially the youngest senior player as part of an ever-changing Blues crop, Gilmour could have an important role to play over the coming months with Lampard's midfield options dropping like flies.

N'Golo Kante (adductor), Mateo Kovacic (Achilles) and Jorginho (suspension) are all sidelined with various return timelines but after a confident showing against the league leaders, such experience will stand him in good stead - especially ahead of a summer poised for transition under Lampard's watch in west London.