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Frank Lampard expects this season’s Premier League title to be won with a significantly lower point count than in recent years.
Manchester City and Liverpool have lifted the trophy in the last three years with scores of 100, 98 and 99 points, while Chelsea achieved 93 in a dominant 2016-17 campaign.
This season’s battle is shaping up to be much tighter between various contenders, with Tottenham and Liverpool currently leading the way with 25 points from 12 games, well ahead of Leicester, Southampton and Chelsea.
Lampard said: “I think that’s where we are this season. We felt it first hand over the weekend with Everton. They have good players, they invested in the summer, they are a good squad, they were doing well.” organized and made it very difficult for us.
“And looking at Sunday’s games, you see it everywhere. The league is getting tighter for whatever reason. I think the teams are getting stronger, they are very well organized and I think I certainly felt that our preparation for the season was a little different so we’ve been working a bit.
Chelsea suffered their first loss in 18 games to Everton on Saturday
“We feel like we’ve already lost some points that we might not have made. Everyone will feel that in their own way. We have to make sure we maintain our levels and keep improving to stay at that.”
Lampard used Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Everton to hit back at the pundits who have been hailing his team as potential title favorites after a 17-game losing streak.
He said: “We have some new players that have come in and people may want to see the price, but at the same time, some of them are young players coming to play in this league for the first time.” time and that clearly takes a little time.
Lampard has jumped to Kai Havertz’s defense this week
“So there are a lot of elements in the team. I think we will improve, we are improving, but strong teams will only be referred to when you win something.”
Lampard, meanwhile, hopes the Wolves have been strengthened as a squad by the terrible head injury suffered by Raúl Jiménez.
The forward suffered a skull fracture during last month’s win over Arsenal in a nasty head butt with David Luiz and spent more than a week in hospital.
Lampard has experienced a similar situation first-hand, having witnessed the skull fracture of former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech during a match against Reading in 2006.
“He actually cheered us on,” Lampard said.
“We lost a great goalkeeper for a while but, when you have that injury criticism, I saw the footage of Jiménez showing up on training ground last week and seeing all of his teammates again and I’m sure it would almost have galvanized some strength within the group because colleagues, friends, within that, you still care about injured players.
Raúl Jiménez visited the Lobos training ground last week after fracturing his skull
“It is a very difficult job when you are injured and much less when that injury could be more threatening to your health than the standard type of injury. So I’m sure it will make them stronger, but obviously they miss a very good player. Same time.
“It’s a difficult situation, one that I don’t like to see, whether it’s our team, as it was with Petr, or an opponent. I prefer to play Wolves with a fit and healthy Jiménez, of course, although he’s a top player.”
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