FA Cup: Julian Alvarez Reveals What Kepa Told Him Before His Penalty

• Julian Alvarez stood firm against Kepa Arrizabalaga's mind games to slot in a cool penalty
• Alvarez was part of the Argentina squad that won the World Cup courtesy of Emi Martinez
• Manchester City thrashed Chelsea 4-0 to advance to the next stage and keep the hopes alive

Kepa Arrizabalaga tried to get into Julian Alvarez's head, during the FA Cup third-round tie between Chelsea and Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Fresh from winning the World Cup with Argentina last month, Alvarez came into the starting eleven in place of Erling Haaland and scored his side's second goal via the penalty spot.

Riyad Mahrez had opened the scoring through a wonderfully taken free kick, to set the pace for the Premier League defending champions.

Minutes later, Kai Havertz bizarrely handled the ball inside the penalty area and Alvarez made no mistake from the spot, despite Arrizabalaga's antics.

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What Kepa tried to do

As he placed the ball on the spot, the world's most expensive goalkeeper approached him and engaged him in a conversation, seemingly to throw him off balance.

Arrizabalaga then dove the correct way but couldn't keep the shot out.

Phil Foden and Mahrez scored the other goals to compound Graham Potter's miserable run.

Speaking after the game, Alvarez revealed how his conversation with the Chelsea goalkeeper played out.

"The goalkeepers always try to do their thing; it doesn’t bother me at all. I had already decided to shoot it like that and well, it was a goal," he said, as quoted by Football 365.

The Argentine played a starring role in his country's triumph in Qatar, which was marked by Emi Martinez's penalty-saving elegance.

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The Manchester City striker became La Albiceleste's lead striker after their shock loss to Saudi Arabia in their opening game.

Pep Guardiola's side will now face either Oxford or Arsenal in the next round.

Riyad Mahrez's form versus Chelsea

Sports Brief also reported that Manchester City ace Mahrez continued his fine form against Chelsea, during their FA Cup meeting at the Etihad Stadium.

The English heavyweights squared off in the third round of the competition on January 8, Sports Brief has reported.

This was the second meeting between the two sides in a space of a few days, having faced off in the Premier League on January 5.