Chelsea could turn to Lampard as caretaker with icon in crowd for Liverpool game

FRANK LAMPARD made a shock return to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

And the Chelsea legend could even end up staying there as caretaker boss.

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Ex-Blues chief Lampard was in the stands to watch the goalless draw with Liverpool, just 48 hours after Graham Potter was sacked.

Now owner Todd Boehly could turn to Lampard to take the reins until the end of the season.

Lampard, who was Chelsea boss for 17 months as well as being the club’s record goalscorer, has been out of work since he was axed by Everton in January.

Potter’s assistant Bruno Saltor took charge of the Blues on Tuesday night but admitted he had never even picked a team before.

Speaking after game, the 42-year-old Brighton legend said: “It’s been a really difficult 48 hours for everyone because it’s not the first time the players have been in this situation this season and they have suffered..

“As a player you invest a lot in the manager. They had a  great relationship with Graham and he has been really supportive with them after leaving. 

“It was truly difficult for me to enjoy tonight. It’s been a really sad time but I’ve just been trying to focus on being the best version of myself  to help the boys.”

Chelsea, who sit 11th in the Premier League table but face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next week, have reportedly made contact with both Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique.

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Asked if he expected to still be in charge for Saturday’s trip to Wolves, Bruno added:  “As it stands I just expect to go home to rest and focus on hour by hour, day by day.

“The owner know the staff are going to be as professional as we can. We try to represent this club the best we can. We know the standards here and what is demanded.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made six changes against Chelsea, leaving Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo on the bench as well as Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Virgil van Dijk also missed out through illness.

The goalless draw leaves Liverpool eighth in the table, seven points behind fourth placed Spurs but with a game in hand.

Klopp admitted: “I don’t know if there’s any chance of the top four. For that to happen we must win pretty much all our games and other teams above us must lose a lot.

“It’s not in our hands but it’s not important. At the moment I don’t even know where we are and I’m not interested.

“We have another ten games and the next one is Arsenal.If we are difficult to beat against them we can win this game. If not, Arsenal will just roll over us.

“Today’s match was not the most spectacular and no-one is going to be writing a book about it. But it’s a little step in the right direction.”