A former Liverpool player, Danny Murphy, has predicted that Chelsea are “guaranteed” to finish in the Premier League’s top four this season.
Murphy stated this ahead of Chelsea’s Champion League clash against Sevilla on Tuesday night.
Chelsea are currently in the eighth position on the Premier League table, having won two of their opening five matches this season.
“There is certainly going to be more pressure on Frank Lampard to deliver a trophy this season than there was in his first year, particularly with [Roman] Abramovich bankrolling such a huge spending spree this summer,” Murphy told Football Index Podcast.
“I do not think that pressure will impact Lampard at all, though because it is no more than the pressure he puts on himself to succeed.
“He has a great squad now, and there are no excuses not to deliver.
“They have had a few injury problems, but I expect Chelsea to grow and grow as the season progresses and I think they are guaranteed to finish in the top four.
“I think Chelsea are still twelve months away from competing for the Premier League.”
