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Frank Lampard: 'Champions League hopes are in our own hands'

Frank Lampard: 'CL hopes are in our own hands'
© Reuters
The Blues still need a point.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has every faith his players can get their bid for Champions League qualification over the line.

A 5-3 defeat to Liverpool at the newly-crowned Premier League champions' trophy party at Anfield meant Lampard's side missed the chance to secure the one point needed to guarantee a top-four spot.

That must now be achieved at home to Europa League-chasing Wolves on Sunday, but the former England midfielder does not believe they should allow themselves to be daunted by the challenge.

"I have seen a lot in the last two games, particularly with Manchester United (the FA Cup semi-final win) and then with Liverpool, of what we are about," he said.

"There has been spirit and character in those two performances and we have to carry it on for one more game in the league.

'Since restart there was a feeling it could go this far. I felt we maybe could get over the line before the (Liverpool) game because we played so well against Manchester United.

"What is absolutely important is the players focus on themselves because it is in our own hands, and that is the job I'll do because we can't affect what is going on elsewhere.

"We have to try to get over the line. We have character in the group, we have quality and we have a good opponent coming and it is on us now."

Chelsea's goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has come in for criticism this season, particularly in the last few games, and Lampard found himself being asked about the 25-year-old's performance at Anfield.

"I will not talk about individuals in a game where we have conceded those goals. Some were real quality Liverpool finishes, particularly the (Trent Alexander-Arnold) free-kick.

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has been criticised by some
Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has been criticised by some (Adam Davy/NMC Pool)

"There were some collective and individual errors for the goals. We know if we make mistakes like that against a team of the quality of Liverpool then this is what can happen.

"But there were a lot of good things in the game so I certainly don't want to get into individual conversations about players because we have two big domestic games to play and it is important we go in together, as players, fans, everybody trying to finish the season how we want."

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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool38323385335299
2Manchester CityMan City382639102356781
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd381812866363066
4Chelsea382061269541566
5Leicester CityLeicester381881267412662
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs3816111161471459
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves381514951401159
8Arsenal381414105648856
9Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd381412123939054
10Burnley38159144350-754
11Southampton38157165160-952
12Everton381310154456-1249
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381111163858-2044
14Crystal Palace381110173150-1943
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914153954-1541
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham38109194962-1339
17Aston Villa3898214167-2635
RBournemouth3897224065-2534
RWatford38810203664-2834
RNorwich CityNorwich3856272675-4921

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