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Frank Lampard would relish Chelsea title win at home

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Lampard claims Chelsea have the momentum

Chelsea's Frank Lampard would love to seal the Premier League crown on home turf at Stamford Bridge on Sunday but is not taking victory for granted.

The midfielder scored in the 2-0 weekend win at Liverpool, with the title battle going down to the wire.

Chelsea face Wigan and only need to match or better Manchester United's result against Stoke to win the league.

"It would be nice to do it in front of our own fans," said Lampard, before insisting the title was not yet won.

"Obviously Manchester United have a tough game but we'll never go that far, we have a big game next week.

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"But we knew the Liverpool game was huge for us. We knew if we had dropped points we would have given the momentum to United."

The lead has changed hands numerous times throughout the season but Chelsea ensured that they go into the final day in pole position with victory at Anfield.

"We've definitely had a couple of moments in the season where we haven't been at our best and we've dropped points, and the momentum went back with Manchester United but in the last 10 games our performances have been fantastic," stated Lampard.

"We've got a bit of a head of steam up now and we're in a good position."

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti would admit that getting all three points at Liverpool was potentially decisive in the title race.

"It was the key game I think for the fight for the title and we played very well," said the Italian. "We deserved to win. It was a little bit difficult in the first half but in the second half we did better.

"It was an important performance. There was a lot of pressure on this game and on us but we had good control of our emotions.

Ancelloti stays cool on Premier League title

"The team is fit, mentally very good and we have to have confidence for the next game. We have to stay calm, train well like we did the last week and prepare well. Nothing special."

Manchester United beat Sunderland 1-0 on Sunday to stay within one point of Chelsea, with a home game against Stoke to come next week, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson conceded that it might be "clutching at straws" to hope Wigan can hold Chelsea.

And the Scot could not hide his disappointment at the manner of Chelsea's opening goal on Sunday, with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard sending a dreadful backpass straight to Didier Drogba.

"I just saw it after the game," commented Ferguson. "It was a great gift. There's nothing we can do about it now, we just have to get on with it."

United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was downbeat about his side's chances of overhauling Chelsea on the final day of the season.

"It will be difficult, of course, but you have to believe in it," said the Dutchman.

"I don't think we lost it today, I think we lost it earlier on, and maybe some decisions going in their favour in the last couple of weeks has made it difficult for us.

"It's the last home game and the last couple of years we've been used to lifting something. Maybe that's going to be different but you never know."



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Premier League table snapshot

As it stood on 2 May 2010 23:59 UK

PositionTeamPGDPTS
1Chelsea376383
2Man Utd375482
3Arsenal363972
4Tottenham362767
5Man City362966
6Aston Villa371464
7Liverpool372662
8Everton371058
9Birmingham37-850
10Fulham36-246
11Sunderland37-744
12Stoke36-1144
13Blackburn36-1644
14Bolton37-2636
15Wolves37-2535
16Wigan36-3435
17West Ham37-1934
18Hull36-4128
19Burnley37-4227
20Portsmouth37-3119


see also
Man Utd look to favour from Wigan
03 May 10 |  Man Utd
Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea
02 May 10 |  Premier League
Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd
02 May 10 |  Premier League
Sunday football as it happened
02 May 10 |  Football
Sunday's football photos
02 May 10 |  Premier League


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