Lampard after Chelsea loss to Everton: 'We did not pass the test'

Everton 1-0 Chelsea.

Lampard leaving the Goodison Park pitch after defeat to Everton [Getty]

Chelsea suffered only their second defeat of the 2020-21 season when they travelled to Goodison Park and also missed the chance to go top of the Premier League table following their 1-0 loss to Everton.

Frank Lampard admitted his Blues were not at their best, and they have a lot more to work on going forward.

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 22nd-minute penalty was the only goal of the game at Goodison Park on Saturday night, and Lampard was disappointed his team ‘did not have enough to unlock the door,’ adding that ‘they did not pass the test’ on the day.

"Not our best performance," Lampard told BT Sport. "First 20 minutes were key for me, I knew it was coming, longer balls and second balls for a team needing a win. When you go 1-0 down, it absolutely suits their gameplan. We hit the post twice but for our levels and what we have been recently, not good enough.

"I would not say energy or desire wasn't there, we were just off it. The lads are gutted because we were on a good run. If they are going to make it difficult for you, don't concede from a long ball, second ball situation. We have been getting down the sides, the quality of crosses has been good and it wasn't today. Credit to Everton.

"I don't think Eduoard Mendy was just culpable but he has been outstanding so far so I will take that. When teams play long with one of the best strikers in the league, you have to suffer the moments and get through. Disappointed we did not have enough to unlock the door.

"It is a long season and these people talking abut us winning the league best squad, it is ridiculous. You have to look at the teams winning it last three or fours years, they have wingers, strikers scoring 30, 40 goals and league, Champions League winners. Coming here to this place, they were up for a result and we did not past the test. We will in the future."

Chelsea full-back Ben Chilwell felt they lost the match within the first 30 mins of the game because they failed “to come out sharp and match their [the Toffees] physicality”.

The England international added: "It was in the first 30 minutes of the game we lost the game. We knew we had to come out sharp and match their physicality but we didn't do that. 

"Me and [James] Reece struggled to get into the game, their runners were good at tracking us, the fans were behind them and the longer the game went on we knew it was going to be difficult to score.”

When asked about the Blues being title contenders, he replied: "We try not to listen to any of that [title contenders]. We have a young squad, we are still a relatively new group. The reality is we won't win every match and now it is how we react to it."

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