Chelsea welcome defending Premier League champions, Liverpool, in Matchweek 2 of the 2020/21 season and the Blues boss will be itching to pick up a win against the Anfield outfit this time around.
Liverpool thumped five goals past Chelsea during their last league meeting two months ago but before that, Lampard was able to pick up a hard-fought 2-0 win over Jurgen Klopp’s men in the FA Cup back in March.
And according to the Chelsea boss, a win on Sunday will not only help them remain closer to the top of the league table but will also ensure that they break out of their pre-season mode.
‘This is not a game about making a statement,’ Lampard said in his pre-match press conference.
‘It’s the second game of the season, and we were probably in pre-season zone in terms of our fitness at Brighton because of quarantine and international breaks.
‘Now we take on the best team in the country last season. It’s a nice challenge for us to go head to head with them. They were the outstanding team last year, and we competed in every game against them.
‘They will always give you a tough match, and we will have to push the limits and try and close that gap. That’s the challenge in front of us.
‘As a player I always felt that adrenaline and feeling for a game at this level, and it’s the same for a coach. I know we’re going up against a great team, I’m going up against a fantastic coach, so you want to do well.
‘When I was playing the games were ultra-competitive and very difficult for us. In modern-day terms, it looks slightly different because Liverpool have been fighting to win the league, and last year they did.
‘We are now trying to improve and close that gap, and that competitiveness is what the Premier League is all about.’
During Matchweek 1, Leeds United had shown that if you play tactically well enough then Liverpool’s strong defence is also breachable.
And with the likes of Werner and Kai Havertz at his disposal, the Chelsea boss will be wanting to push his attackers to take on the Liverpool defence at every given opportunity.
Also, Thiago Silva is expected to start in defence for the Blues meaning Lampard will finally have some much-needed experience in the backline.
