Daniel Sturridge was on target twice in Chelsea's seven-goal rout
Chelsea started their FA Cup defence with a resounding win over Championship strugglers Ipswich, paving the way for a fourth-round trip to Everton.
Salomon Kalou put Chelsea ahead after keeper Marton Fulop had failed to cut out a Nicolas Anelka strike.
Daniel Sturridge back-heeled a swift second before Frank Lampard's free-kick was deflected in by Carlos Edwards.
Anelka punished some slack defending to make it four, Sturridge curled home a fifth, and Lampard added a late double.
After a dramatic dip in league form which has brought Chelsea just 10 points from their last 11 games, comfortable passage to the next round was the perfect tonic for the club's embattled manager, Carlo Ancelotti.
The Italian could perhaps have wished for a less testing fourth-round assignment than a visit to Merseyside for what will be a repeat of the 2009 final, but after a comprehensive win the holders will at least travel in good heart.
Even without a clutch of their star performers, Chelsea were a class above the visitors. If a dominant performance which recalled their sparkling start to the season doesn't instil renewed belief in the ranks of the defending champions, nothing will.
Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, and Florent Malouda were all named on the bench, and with Ashley Cole missing out altogether, Chelsea looked to spice a nonetheless experienced line-up with a sprinkling of youth.
There was a starting berth for each of Josh McEachran, Patrick Van Aanholt and Sturridge, and Anelka also returned to spearhead a three-pronged attack. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the number of changes, it took time for the Chelsea juggernaut to get rolling.
Ipswich took advantage of that fact to give a good early account of themselves, never more so than when Jason Scotland combined with David Norris before testing Chelsea keeper Petr Cech with a firm effort.
But two goals in two first-half minutes set the ball rolling for the holders, and from that point it was a baptism of fire for Ipswich's caretaker manager Ian McParland, who took the Portman Road helm following the departure of Roy Keane on Friday.
McParland's task was complicated by the absence of a trio of key players in recalled Sunderland loanee Jack Colback, cup-tied striker Rory Fallon, and the suspended Grant Leadbitter.
But with Chelsea in such rampant form, a much-changed Ipswich line-up stood little chance once Ancelotti's men had made the first incision.
That moment came on 32 minutes, when the visitors conceded possession cheaply in midfield, allowing Anelka to fire off an effort which, having squirmed past Fulop, was tapped home by Kalou.
Sixty seconds later, Sturridge, whose second start of the season was deserved reward for a five-goal haul for the reserves in the midweek, back-heeled home Jose Bosingwa's centre. At that point, Ipswich's problems began in earnest.
By the time Sturridge added his second, a curling effort into the corner seven minutes after the break, the visitors were already 4-0 down, Anelka having broken a 10-game duck after further defensive laxity from McParland's men.
For the beleaguered Fulop, it was a nightmare revisited. This time last year, the Hungary international was in goal for Sunderland as they were overwhelmed 7-2 at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard soon ensured that nightmare became reality for Fulop and his Ipswich team-mates.
With 12 minutes remaining, the England international drove home from outside the area, and a minute later he doubled his tally, bundling in a low centre from Branislav Ivanovic to complete the rout.
While Ipswich retain the haunted look of a side with two wins in 11 games, Chelsea remain on course to become the first side to lift the Cup for three consecutive seasons, a feat last accomplished by Blackburn in 1886.
90:00+3:01 The referee signals the end of the game.
90:00+2:34 Corner taken by Frank Lampard played to the near post, Marton Fulop makes a save.
90:00+2:16 Nicolas Anelka takes a shot. Save made by Marton Fulop.
90:00+1:38 Nicolas Anelka decides to take the corner short.
90:00+1:03 Branislav Ivanovic takes a shot. Save by Marton Fulop.
90:00+0:43 Short corner taken by Frank Lampard from the left by-line.
90:00+0:32 Gael Kakuta takes a shot. Save by Marton Fulop.
88:25 Foul by Carlos Edwards on Jose Bosingwa, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jose Bosingwa.
87:20 Unfair challenge on Troy Brown by Daniel Sturridge results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Marton Fulop.
86:15 Gael Kakuta gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Kennedy. Direct free kick taken by Marton Fulop.
85:34 Darren O'Dea gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joshua McEachran. Free kick taken by Joshua McEachran.
82:17 Shot by Jaime Peters from just outside the area goes over the net.
81:16 Daniel Sturridge is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Marton Fulop.
80:33 Ramires takes a shot.
78:38 Assist on the goal came from Branislav Ivanovic.
78:38 GOAL - Frank Lampard:Chelsea 7 - 0 Ipswich Frank Lampard finds the back of the net with a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Chelsea 7-0 Ipswich.
77:39 GOAL - Frank Lampard:Chelsea 6 - 0 Ipswich Frank Lampard finds the net with a goal from just outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Chelsea 6-0
Ipswich.
77:16 Short corner worked by Gael Kakuta.
72:17 Daniel Sturridge fouled by Gareth McAuley, the ref awards a free kick. Frank Lampard produces a shot on goal direct from the
free kick.
71:16 The ball is delivered by Nicolas Anelka, clearance by Gareth McAuley.
69:36 Substitution Jeffrey Bruma comes on in place of Patrick Van Aanholt.
68:00 Nicolas Anelka is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Darren O'Dea restarts play with the free kick.
63:56 Ronan Murray takes a shot. Save by Petr Cech.
62:44 Substitution Tamas Priskin comes on in place of Connor Wickham.
61:41 A cross is delivered by Patrick Van Aanholt.
58:50 Ronan Murray is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Jose Bosingwa restarts play with the free kick.
57:33 Short corner taken by Daniel Sturridge.
56:41 Effort on goal by Jaime Peters from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.
55:37 Patrick Van Aanholt produces a cross, Frank Lampard takes a shot. Save by Marton Fulop.
54:32 Substitution Gael Kakuta comes on in place of Salomon Kalou.
54:23 Effort on goal by Nicolas Anelka from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.
53:06 Nicolas Anelka takes a shot. Clearance by Gareth McAuley.
Correction - 51:55 GOAL - Daniel Sturridge:Chelsea 5 - 0 Ipswich A goal is scored by Daniel Sturridge from just inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Chelsea 5-0 Ipswich.
51:55 Assist on the goal came from Frank Lampard.
51:55 GOAL - Daniel Sturridge:Chelsea 5 - 0 Ipswich Daniel Sturridge fires in a goal from the edge of the area to the top right corner of the goal. Chelsea 5-0 Ipswich.
48:47 Substitution Ronan Murray comes on in place of Jason Scotland.
48:03 Assist by Salomon Kalou.
48:03 GOAL - Nicolas Anelka:Chelsea 4 - 0 Ipswich Nicolas Anelka gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Chelsea 4-0
Ipswich.
47:08 Nicolas Anelka takes a shot. Save made by Marton Fulop.
45:59 Foul by Jaime Peters on Jose Bosingwa, free kick awarded. Jose Bosingwa restarts play with the free kick.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:06 The first half comes to an end.
45:00+1:28 A cross is delivered by Carlos Edwards, Branislav Ivanovic manages to make a clearance.
45:00+0:38 Foul by Joshua McEachran on Jason Scotland, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Mark Kennedy.
45:00+0:09 Connor Wickham concedes a free kick for a foul on Joshua McEachran. Joshua McEachran restarts play with the free kick.
43:05 A cross is delivered by Daniel Sturridge, Gareth McAuley makes a clearance.
40:54 Frank Lampard provided the assist for the goal.
40:54 GOAL - Carlos Edwards:Chelsea 3 - 0 Ipswich Carlos Edwards scores an own goal from 6 yards. Chelsea 3-0 Ipswich.
40:22 Unfair challenge on John Terry by David Norris results in a free kick. Frank Lampard crosses the ball in from the free kick.
40:22 Booking David Norris receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
39:19 Frank Lampard decides to take a short corner.
37:33 Frank Lampard takes a shot. Save made by Marton Fulop.
34:43 Nicolas Anelka gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren O'Dea. Marton Fulop takes the free kick.
34:17 The ball is swung over by Jose Bosingwa, clearance by Gareth McAuley.
32:48 Assist on the goal came from Jose Bosingwa.
32:48 GOAL - Daniel Sturridge:Chelsea 2 - 0 Ipswich Goal scored by Daniel Sturridge from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Chelsea 2-0 Ipswich.
32:15 GOAL - Salomon Kalou:Chelsea 1 - 0 Ipswich Salomon Kalou fires in a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Chelsea 1-0 Ipswich.
31:14 Nicolas Anelka takes a shot. Save by Marton Fulop.
29:52 Effort from the edge of the area by Nicolas Anelka goes wide of the right-hand upright.
29:10 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Frank Lampard from the right by-line to the near post, Connor Wickham manages to
make a clearance.
28:53 Joshua McEachran takes a shot. Connor Wickham gets a block in.
28:36 Corner taken by Frank Lampard from the right by-line.
27:36 The ball is swung over by Ramires, clearance made by Mark Kennedy.
26:29 The offside flag is raised against Connor Wickham. John Terry takes the free kick.
25:37 Frank Lampard takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.
25:31 The ball is delivered by Patrick Van Aanholt.
24:19 The offside flag is raised against Daniel Sturridge. Marton Fulop takes the indirect free kick.
22:36 Shot on goal by Jose Bosingwa from just inside the area goes over the target.
22:12 Nicolas Anelka takes a shot. Clearance by Troy Brown.
21:33 Jason Scotland takes a shot. Save by Petr Cech.
18:51 Corner taken by Carlos Edwards played to the near post, clearance by Frank Lampard.
16:37 The ball is delivered by Nicolas Anelka, clearance by Gareth McAuley.
13:46 Nicolas Anelka takes a shot. Marton Fulop makes a save.
12:55 Nicolas Anelka takes a shot. Save by Marton Fulop.
11:52 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Joshua McEachran.
11:28 Inswinging corner taken by Frank Lampard, save made by Marton Fulop.
11:11 Patrick Van Aanholt takes a shot. Blocked by David Norris.
8:58 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ramires by Darren O'Dea. Jose Bosingwa takes the direct free kick. Shot from
close range by Daniel Sturridge misses to the right of the goal.
7:01 Corner taken by Frank Lampard from the left by-line to the near post.
6:37 Daniel Sturridge takes a shot. Save made by Marton Fulop.
4:27 Corner taken right-footed by Frank Lampard from the left by-line, Marton Fulop makes a save.
4:02 Nicolas Anelka crosses the ball, clearance by Gareth McAuley.
0:45 The ball is crossed by Patrick Van Aanholt.
0:00 The referee starts the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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