Such are the fine margins in football, determining whether Frank Lampard's first season in charge of Chelsea has been a success is set to hinge entirely upon the crunch month ahead.

Mikel Arteta has praised the reaction of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after his skipper missed a last-gasp chance as Arsenal crashed out of the Europa League to Olympiacos.

DANNY MURPHY: There won't be any tears in the Liverpool dressing-room about failing to become Invincibles. In hindsight, you could say that this defeat at Watford had been coming.

Pompey lifted the cup in 2008 and were beaten finalists two years later before dropping out of the Premier League and plummeting through the footballing pyramid amid major financial problems.

FA Cup fifth round action gets under way on the south coast, as Arsenal travel to Fratton Park to lock horns with Portsmouth. Sportsmail's DANNY GALLAGHER brings you the action live.

Frank Lampard has revealed Kepa Arrizabalaga is in line for a Chelsea recall tonight, but warned the keeper his fading Euro 2020 hopes are the least of his worries.

EXCLUSIVE: Allan Saint-Maximin's future at Newcastle is in doubt after Steve Bruce dropped him for Saturday's goalless draw with Burnley, citing a hamstring injury.

CRAIG HOPE: It was put to Steve Bruce ahead of Tuesday's FA Cup tie at West Brom that Joelinton may not score another Premier League goal this season yet could still emerge as a Cup hero.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos insists he will not "sit" on his contract at Arsenal and would look to move on if he becomes disillusioned at being out of the team.

Several Gunners' stars were reluctant to make too much contact with players from opponents Portsmouth as they lined up at the start of Monday night's FA Cup match.

MATT BARLOW AT FRATTON PARK: Arsenal have made it through to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth in the fifth round.

The Gunners booked their place in the FA Cup quarter finals thanks to goals in either half from Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Eddie Nketiah at Fratton Park on Monday night.

The French midfielder was cautioned by veteran referee Mike Dean during the first half of the Gunners' FA Cup tie with Portsmouth, leaving supporters bemused as to why he was booked.

Mikel Arteta admits he took a risk making nine changes for the FA Cup win at Portsmouth but claims he was left with no choice as some of his players were 'knackered' after Europa League exit.

Arsenal were dealt an injury blow during their FA Cup fifth round win over Portsmouth as midfielder Lucas Torreira was taken off on a stretcher. The Uruguayan went to ground holding his ankle.

Leroy Sane has missed the whole of the season so far after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the Community Shield against Liverpool on August 4, 2019.

Birmingham starlet Jude Bellingham will not be given the chance to test himself against Premier League opposition in the FA Cup fifth-round clash with Leicester on Wednesday.

EXCLUSIVE BY SAMI MOKBEL: Premier League clubs have strengthened their global scouting teams as they prepare to take advantage of relaxed post-Brexit regulations on homegrown players.

Chelsea host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in their first FA Cup meeting since 2012 when Blues won 2-1 in the final as Frank Lampard looks to repeat the victory as a manager now.

For Frank Lampard, his side - which included impressive 18-year-old midfielder Billy Gilmour - beat the 'best team in the land' in Liverpool due to their 'focus', 'determination' and 'quality' on the night.

CRAIG HOPE AT THE HAWTHORNS: Free-scoring Newcastle United are into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup - now there is a statement that requires a double-take.

Sportsmail will provide you with everything you need to know for the FA Cup quarter-final draw including date, time and channel plus confirmed teams, ball numbers and key dates.

DANIEL MATTHEWS AT THE MADJESKI STADIUM: Here, Reading pushed their Premier League visitors beyond 90 minutes, only for Billy Sharp's extra-time header to break their hearts.

Billy Gilmour was the name on everyone's lips as Chelsea dumped Liverpool out of the FA Cup. And the youngster could get more game time as Chelsea grapple with an injury crisis.

Billy Gilmour has boosted his chances of being fast-tracked into Scotland's senior squad with his breakout performance in Chelsea's FA Cup win against Liverpool on Tuesday night.

Billy Gilmour has received high praise following his impressive display against Liverpool on Tuesday - and now his idol Cesc Fabregas has spoken of the young Chelsea midfielder's quality.

The 18-year-old (left) was the standout player at Stamford Bridge as he put in a performance beyond his years to help Frank Lampard's romp to a brilliant 2-0 win over Jurgen Klopp's men.

SAMI MOKBEL AT STAMFORD BRIDGE: Chelsea reached the FA Cup quarter-finals following a 2-0 victory over Liverpool. Sportsmail rates the performances of both teams.

MARTIN SAMUEL AT STAMFORD BRIDGE: It is often said that Ross Barkley keeps the ball too long. Here, he kept it just long enough to score the goal that sunk Liverpool.

Gilmour, 18, led the way for Chelsea in the win at Stamford Bridge, where Willian and Ross Barkley scored to lead Frank Lampard's men into the quarter-finals.

Chelsea booked their place in the FA Cup quarter finals after seeing off Premier League champions-elect Liverpool 2-0, thanks to goals from Willian and Ross Barkley.

TOM COLLOMOSSE AT THE KING POWER STADIUM: Pereira produced a finish Jamie Vardy would have been proud of to keep alive Leicester's chance of winning a major trophy.

Billy Gilmour's man of the match performance for Chelsea in their FA Cup win over Liverpool has seen calls grow louder to insert him straight into the next Scotland line-up. 

JACK GAUGHAN AT HILLSBOROUGH: De Bruyne missed Wednesday night's slender FA Cup victory at Sheffield Wednesday after landing awkwardly towards the end of the Carabao Cup final.

Frank Lampard's Chelsea side beat Liverpool 2-0 on Tuesday night in the fifth round and will have to see off the Foxes to reach the last four of the domestic cup competition.

Tim Krul had Spurs' penalty takers and the directions they would shoot listed on his water bottle ahead of Norwich's shock win on spot kicks in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.

Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul saved penalties from Troy Parrott and Gedson Fernandes as Tuesday's fifth round tie at White Hart Lane was settled in a shoot-out after a 1-1 draw.

Jan Vertonghen admits Tottenham must address the problem of goals they concede if they are to salvage something from their disastrous season after crashing out of the FA Cup on Wednesday.

Eric Dier's moment of madness in vaulting into the stands was sparked after he spotted his brother, Patrick, in a melee with a Tottenham fan who was trying to get the player's attention.

Eric Dier's confrontation with a Tottenham Hotspur supporter has been the talk of social media overnight following his outburst at the end of a FA Cup tie on Wednesday night.

Torreira was taken off on a stretcher early on during the 2-0 victory at Fratton Park following a crunching tackle from Portsmouth's James Bolton. The midfielder will see a specialist on Friday.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: There were only a few hours between Trabzonspor stating that Sturridge's contract had been terminated, and the specific explanation.

Harry Maguire is doubtful for Sunday's Manchester derby after missing Manchester United's FA Cup tie at Derby with an ankle injury.

The FA have launched an investigation into the extraordinary scenes when Dier vaulted rows of seats to drag his younger brother, Patrick, away after he became involved in a bust-up with a supporter.

The left-back has impressed in recent weeks and continued the good form by opening the scoring with a volley that deflected off team-mate Jesse Lingard before looping into the net.

While Manchester City's clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough took place on Wednesday night, United's game at Derby County was the last of the eight ties on Thursday.

Shocking footage showed Manchester United fans subjecting Jesse Lingard to a torrent of abuse as he boarded the team bus after their 3-0 FA Cup win at Derby.

Carlo Ancelotti is braced for an emotional return to Stamford Bridge, but says Roman Abramovich never revealed why he sacked him as manager of Chelsea in 2011.

Frank Lampard believes top players deserve more credit for not snapping in the face of abuse from fans after Eric Dier clambered into the stands to confront a supporter.

Manchester United have condemned the fans who aimed verbal abuse at Jesse Lingard as he boarded the team bus after their FA Cup win at Derby County on Thursday night.