Lampard calls on Chelsea seniors to take the heat off his youngsters

Frank Lampard wants Chelsea’s senior players to step up and take some of the pressure off the club’s youngsters as the Blues bid to bounce back from their Champions League disappointment.

Chelsea lost their opening Group H match against Valencia at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday after suffering an early blow when 20-year-old Mason Mount was forced off with an ankle injury.

Mount is expected to miss the game against Liverpool on Sunday and could be out for two weeks, despite early scans suggesting he had suffered nothing worse than a sprain.

His replacement, 32-year-old Pedro, failed to make an impact while 31-year-old Willian was involved in late controversy when he delayed Ross Barkley’s penalty preparations by breaking protocol to ask to take the kick himself.

Barkley missed the penalty and Chelsea’s only goalscorers this season remain the youngsters Mount, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori.

Lampard has been delighted by the impact his young players have made, but the 41-year-old is aware they will need help. The game against Liverpool represents Chelsea’s biggest test of the season so far, with Lampard’s team yet to register a victory at Stamford Bridge. But they can take heart from their Uefa Super Cup performance, despite losing on penalties. “The big games bring the best out of all the players,” said Barkley.

“Every side is beatable on the day. It just comes down to hard work, putting extra yards in, being clinical and [having] that bit of luck,” he added.