FRANK LAMPARD was smelling Red blood long before he heard the Anfield beast had finally been taken down at Watford.
Champions-elect Liverpool’s 3-0 loss against the Hornets may just be a small scar in their slick season but next up are Chelsea in the FA Cup.
Lampard will resist the urge to rotate his team for Chelsea vs LiverpoolCredit: PA:Press Association
Chelsea struggled to a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on SaturdayCredit: Getty
And exactly which Blues team the wounded league leaders will face in London is anyone’s guess — after Lampard’s boys once again flattered to deceive on the south coast.
This Chelsea clan was taught a lesson in finishing at home by Manchester United, then outclassed Tottenham before having their bottoms spanked by Bayern Munich.
Some observers claim this young team has lost direction, which may explain why none of them found their way to the mixed zone in Bournemouth to be interviewed.
But after scraping a draw against the relegation-threatened Cherries, in a match they clearly should have won, Lamps jutted out his chin in defiance.
When asked if he would rotate or cement this team to get the better of Jurgen Klopp’s table-toppers the young gaffer insisted: “Cement and go for victory.
“It’s Liverpool. Our fans want us to overturn the best team in the land.
“It doesn’t mean I don’t change a couple of people, bring in fresh legs or a couple of different options but I won’t pick a team casually just to be giving minutes.
“I will be treating it with the care I would give a Premier League game.”
So there you have it. Fighting talk as always from a man who gave everything in a Blues shirt in his marauding midfield days.
But whether his boys are giving everything for every minute on the grass is not quite so clear after yet another bewildering performance.
Little wonder then former Blues star Pat Nevin was left shaking his head with utter incredulity at what he had just reported on.
The TV and radio celebrity left the media room still lamenting the fact his old side had no Eden Hazard to save the day.
As it turned out the Blues twice had to rely on their Spanish wing-back Marcos Alonso to earn them a point.
Chelsea overcame a rocky opening spell against a spirited Cherries side, who should have taken the lead with Philip Billing missing two sitters.
Alonso broke the deadlock on 33 minutes after Olivier Giroud flicked a volley on to the bar.
Yet when Giroud contrived to miskick right in front of goal soon after the break the hosts suddenly got a shot of adrenaline.
GOAL-MAD MARCOS
Jefferson Lerma leapt majestically on 54 minutes to head home his first goal of the season from Ryan Fraser’s corner and three minutes later the Blues defence was breached again.
Fraser and Billing combined to send in Jack Stacey who picked out Josh King to score at the back post.
Lamps retreated to his bench out of the freezing rain no doubt wondering if he would get a reaction.
This time he did and despite keeper Aaron Ramsdale’s best efforts in the home goal, Alonso popped up to level four minutes from time.
That’s 19 goals the Spaniard has netted for the club since he arrived in London in August 2016 — a Premier League high for a defender.
Lamps felt his boys had been given a “reality check” by the German giants in the Champions League but here he saw some redemption.
He said: “Every reaction is important whether you lose a game or not. It was a difficult game against Bayern, we all know that.
“When you are winning games you have to react to sustain performances and results. So yeah I have been pleased with the reaction.
“I didn’t feel there was a bad reaction in between, the lads have had a determined look on their face and they gave everything today.”
Tammy Abraham faces indefinite spell on sidelines as Frank Lampard warns Chelsea kids they risk axe
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
