Andre Villas-Boas saw his brief Chelsea revival brought to a swift end as second half goals from Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly gave Liverpool a 2-0 Carling Cup quarter-final victory.

Liverpool's second win at Stamford Bridge in 10 days could have been greater if Andy Carroll had not missed a first half penalty, awarded after Alex was penalised for handling a Jose Enrique cross.

Craig Bellamy started for the visitors after missing Sunday's draw with Manchester City on compassionate grounds following the death of Gary Speed, and was visibly upset during the pre-match minute's silence.

But it was Bellamy who inspired Liverpool's win, providing the cross from which Maxi opened the scoring on 58 minutes, and the free-kick which allowed Kelly to head home five minutes later.

The pressure also increased on Blackburn boss Steve Kean after his rock-bottom Barclays Premier League side suffered a 2-0 defeat at npower Championship promotion contenders Cardiff.

Kenny Miller struck the opener in the 19th minute when he shot under Rovers keeper Mark Bunn, and Cardiff increased their lead five minutes into the second half when Anthony Gerrard headed home a Peter Whittingham corner.

There is no such pressure on Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini after he watched Sergio Aguero fire home an 83rd minute winner at Arsenal to ease the Premier League leaders into the semi-finals.

Aguero, on as a 32nd minute substitute for Aleksandar Kolarov, finished off a fantastic attacking move in which Edin Dzeko found Adam Johnson who in turn laid off the ball for the Argentinian.

A youthful Gunners line-up had come close to grabbing a 27th minute lead when the impressive Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain saw a rising goal-bound shot brilliantly saved by City keeper Costel Pantilimon.