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Aston Villa logo
Premier League | Gameweek 30
Jun 21, 2020 at 4.15pm UK
Villa Park
Chelsea logo

Aston Villa
1 - 2
Chelsea

Hause (43')
Konsa (45'), Grealish (90+6')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Pulisic (60'), Giroud (62')
Kante (90+4')

Frank Lampard calls on Chelsea to raise game in final push for top four

Chelsea are five points clear of Manchester United and Wolves in the Premier League.

Frank Lampard has demanded his Chelsea side improve for the final sprint for the top four.

Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud scored two quickfire second-half goals as the Blues hit back at Aston Villa to clinch a crucial 2-1 win on Sunday.

Third-placed Leicester and Manchester United dropped points at Watford and Tottenham respectively with Chelsea now five points ahead of United in fifth and Wolves in sixth.

Olivier Giroud scored the winner
Olivier Giroud scored the winner (Molly Darlington/NMC Pool/PA)

Victory at Villa, after they fell behind to Kortney Hause’s opener, tightened Chelsea’s grip on fourth but Lampard wants more.

“We didn’t know exactly what we were coming in to and now we have three points when some teams have lost points around us,” he said.

“It’s important we don’t lose sight of some of the errors in the game, we conceded a poor goal.

“We played well in patches but when they put us under pressure slightly, I thought we gave it away too easily – things we will definitely have to clean up on in the future games coming up.

“I want to hang on the positive note but it’s my job also to look at things we can improve on. It’s a good feeling for us but we’ll get straight back to work tomorrow because we know the games are coming quick.

“It’s important for the group because we’ve all seen that the games are looking slightly different.”

Ruben Loftus-Cheek also made his first Premier League appearance for 13 months after recovering from a ruptured Achilles.

He played 55 minutes before being replaced by game-changer Pulisic and came close to opening the scoring when he just failed to connect with Willian’s first-half cross.

Lampard said: “I’m delighted for Ruben to be back. He’s got in the team on his own merit in the way that he’s worked for a long time but in the last three, four weeks he’s been back training, he’s looked good.

“We have to give him a little bit of time to adapt but I felt it was a good game to bring his physicality and something different and the flip of having Christian to bring on was great for me.

“He’s going to get much better. It’s a long time since he played but he has so much to give us as a team and as a squad.”

Norwich City v Atalanta – Pre-Season Friendly – Carrow Road
Mario Pasalic is making his loan move to Atalanta permanent (PA)

Meanwhile, the club have announced that midfielder Mario Pasalic is to join Serie A side Atalanta permanently.

The Croatia international is currently spending his second year on loan with the Champions League quarter-finalists.

The Blues confirmed the move on their official website and said: “We thank Mario for his service to the club and wish him the best of luck for the next chapter of his career.”

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham197842825329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
11Brentford208393835327
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


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