Before tonight’s game, we collected the excitement on social media when the announcement was made that Billy Gilmour would be starting.
That excitement has now turned into hysteria after a stunning 90 minutes performance from the Scot, who was named man of the match.
He orchestrated the game from the very start, and was by some distance the most impressive presence on the pitch throughout. The injury Mateo Kovacic picked up may mean that the 18 year old gets to play again this weekend.
If he performs anything like this again, there will be plenty of senior players looking nervously over their shoulders as the wonderkid hovers, ready to steal their place.
With Ruben Loftus-Cheek also almost fit, maybe things are just about to turn the corner for this whole squad.
You can see a small snippet of the wave of appreciation from Chelsea fans and pundits in the Tweets embedded below:
Billy Gilmour 🐐 aged 18 just bossed the World, European & soon to be Premier League champions.
Imagine not being Chelsea#cfc#FACup#CHELIV pic.twitter.com/ZMXQyy55Gv— Mark Worrall (@gate17marco) March 3, 2020
How Billy Gilmour looks playing against the reigning European and World Champions at 18:#cfc pic.twitter.com/pvlWvauD18
— bet365 (@bet365) March 3, 2020
Gilmour really impressing early on here. He's been terrific.
Chelsea free-kick in a good area, after Barkley is fouled.
— TweetChelseaUK (@TweetChelseaUK) March 3, 2020
Billy Gilmour’s heat map vs Liverpool #CFC pic.twitter.com/aRXJ22Dynn
— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) March 3, 2020
People scrambling to be the first to get the 'Billy Gilmour vs Liverpool' comp uploaded. pic.twitter.com/dXGEQErBY3
— Chelsea Youth (@chelseayouth) March 3, 2020
Gilmour terrific again there.
— TweetChelseaUK (@TweetChelseaUK) March 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/CarefreeYouth/status/1234954727634370564
That first half performance from Billy Gilmour 😍
Remember the name.#FACup #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/ogvoZUcqZK
— GOAL (@goal) March 3, 2020
I first started watching Billy Gilmour play about 15 minutes ago. I think that's enough time to start building him up into a future England captain.
— Max Rushden 💛🖤 (@maxrushden) March 3, 2020
Billy Gilmour has been the best player on the pitch so far. Composed and not afraid to put his foot in. #cfc
— Oliver Harbord (@ojharbord) March 3, 2020
Billy Gilmour made the most passes and regained possession the most times for Chelsea in the first half. #CFC #CHELIV #FACup
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) March 3, 2020
"Magnificent."@alanshearer is full of praise for Chelsea youngster Billy Gilmour.
On @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer and the @BBCSport website now 👉 https://t.co/lCKCo8sb4n #bbcfacup #bbcfootball #CHELIV #CFC pic.twitter.com/mkgNb3fjMJ
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/CarefreeYouth/status/1234954460339802114
