Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has thrown down the gauntlet to Premiership leaders Liverpool. "What they'll have to do is keep that up through the whole season," said Lampard. "That's what we've done when we won leagues and what Manchester United have done in the last two seasons.

"Whether Liverpool can do it remains to be seen. But they're definitely one of the strong contenders."

Lamps insists Chelsea have got the Stamford Bridge loss out of their system and dismissed talk of a meltdown.

He added: "It doesn't rank up there with any defeat.

"Because we're professional and we're proud of the home record we had, to lose it against a team that is vying for the title with you is obviously disappointing.

"But you can't compare it to losing a Champions League semi-final or a final because that is a dead-end, finished, out of it - there's no way back.

"We're mature enough and certainly experienced enough from our last four or five years contending for the title to know that if you lose a game after nine matches, it's certainly far from over.

"And we believe in ourselves so I think you have a very disappointing patch after the game and then as you sit back and reflect on it you realise that a lot can be done."