Lampard back for Liverpool clash

Lampard missed the 2-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday as he was on compassionate leave following the death of his mother Pat from pneumonia.

Manager Avram Grant has told the England midfielder that he can take as much time as he needs to recover, but Lampard returned to training yesterday and wants to play against Liverpool.

The Chelsea players offered their own mark of respect for Lampard and his mother by holding a shirt with his number and her name on it after midfielder Michael Ballack scored the opening
goal on Saturday.

Grant said: "The way the players reacted to Frank Lampard's situation made me very proud. We will leave the decision to play up to him. It is not
easy what's happened. I will respect any decision. For me football is exciting, and very important but there are things more important."

If Lampard does return, Grant will have an interesting selection dilemma. Man-of-the-match Ballack can expect to partner the England midfielder with Claude Makelele, which will mean Michael Essien having to play at right-back.

Chelsea have now gone 19 games unbeaten in the Premier League and Ballack believes they have all the momentum going into the final weeks of the season.

He said: "I think we look fresh and better than all other teams, even in the Champions League right now. We are possibly just four games away from two big prizes and we have put ourselves in this situation."

Ballack had a bust-up with striker Didier Drogba on the pitch during the game over who would take a free kick, but he insists there is no problem between them. "These things can happen on the pitch but after the game it's forgotten. It's football and we all want success."

Grant believes United are cracking under pressure and has taken heart from when he watched Leeds throw away the title in the 1971-2 season when they lost at Wolves on the final day to miss out to Derby by one point. Chelsea are trailing on goal difference and even though Sir Alex Ferguson's side only have West Ham and Wigan to come, Grant is convinced they will slip up. He said: "The first year I was in England when I was a child I remember Leeds needed one point against Wolves to win the championship and they lost. I believe United could do the same and drop points against West Ham and Wigan."

Wayne Rooney is struggling with a hip injury. The United striker aggravated the problem at Stamford Bridge and is a major doubt for tomorrow's Champions League semi-final with Barcelona. His absence would leave United with only Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo to choose from up front. Ronaldo, named PFA Player of the Year for the second time last night, has looked jaded in his past four matches and will need to be at his best if the champions are to capitalise on last week's 0-0 draw in the Nou Camp.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas was named young player of the year but Chelsea did not have a player in the Premier League team of the year. Team award: James (Portsmouth); Sagna (Arsenal), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Vidic (Man Utd), Clichy (Arsenal); Ronaldo (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Fabregas (Arsenal), Young (Villa); Adebayor (Arsenal), Torres (Liverpool).