Old Trafford cauldron puts heat on Lampard
FRANK Lampard might have hoped to ease his way into the Chelsea hot seat at his beloved Stamford Bridge but his topflight managerial bow takes place on hostile territory, against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The return of Chelsea’s record goalscorer to west London as manager was the most intriguing development of the summer and Sunday’s blockbuster (Monday, 1.30am AEDT) is the standout clash as the Premier League cranks back into life.
It all starts tomorrow (5am AEDT) when last season’s runner-up Liverpool hosts newcomer Norwich City and continues tomorrow night when champion Manchester City goes to West Ham United (9.30pm) and Tottenham Hotspur hosts Aston Villa (Sunday, 2.30am).
Few would bet against City and Liverpool slugging it out for the title again — such was the unforgiving nature of last season’s duel when they won their last 14 and nine league matches respectively to finish with 98 and 97 points.
Chelsea, then under Maurizio Sarri, was a distant third on 72 points, ahead of Tottenham (71) with Manchester United sixth after a woeful finish in which it won none of its last five games, signing off with a home loss to relegated Cardiff City.
While Sarri’s methods were never embraced by the fans, the Italian steered Chelsea into the Champions League and won the Europa League so he can hardly be deemed a failure.
Lampard will start with goodwill aplenty but needs only to look as far as the United bench in his baptism of fire to know that being a club great takes you only so far.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed a dream start to life as Manchester United manager last season, taking 26 points from his first 10 league games after replacing Jose Mourinho.
But the bounce did not last and the Norwegian will find himself under intense scrutiny as fans seek tangible evidence that United can challenge City.
Solskjaer has been backed in the transfer market with Swansea City flying machine Daniel James and Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka snapped up before United this week paid an eye-watering $143 million for Leicester City’s commanding England centre back Harry Maguire.
While United has spent big, Chelsea’s transfer ban has taken it on a new course and Lampard will continue the methods that served him well at second-tier Derby County last season and promote youngsters such as Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and the currently injured Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Lampard can still call on top-quality internationals such as France midfield anchor N’Golo Kante and Willian, but Chelsea will have to cope without Eden Hazard after his departure for Real Madrid.
The status quo is likely to remain in the top six and the early weeks might offer clues as to the order.
Arsenal, fifth last season, goes to Newcastle United on Sunday where the host’s manager, Steve Bruce, will hope to placate the fans still angry at the departure of Rafa Benitez.