Lampard reveals mother anguish

Lampard and other members of his family have been keeping a bedside vigil ever since his mum Pat was admitted to hospital with pneumonia just over a week ago, but an improvement in her condition gave the midfielder the incentive to play in Chelsea's Champions League semi-final against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night.

"This time last week was very bleak," revealed Lampard. "I won't go into details but we were getting a very bleak outlook. That was the hardest moment for me in my life."

He added: "I am very lucky because I have a very tough mum, who is a very good person, and I think that might be what is helping her at the minute.

"Three days ago I wasn't playing in my mind. But we got some decent news on Saturday afternoon and my head came round a little bit then. I made a decision to go in training on Sunday to see how I felt.

"The manager and the club have been fantastic and have not put any pressure on me whatsoever. I just felt I could come and play and in a way the training and the playing has helped to take my mind off things, whereas last week I was in a bad situation.

"I trained yesterday (Monday) and I will be honest I wasn't in the greatest of shape. I have been in better shape for games both mentally and physically but it has been a very difficult week."

The England international helped Chelsea to secure a 1-1 first-leg draw courtesy of an injury-time own goal from Liverpool substitute John Arne Riise.

Avram Grant's side were trailing to a 42nd-minute opener from Dirk Kuyt and had rarely looked capable of equalising until Riise's last-minute blunder gave Chelsea a slight advantage going into the return leg at Stamford Bridge next week.