Frank Lampard has admitted Chelsea are playing catch-up to Premier League champions Liverpool after seeing the Reds end their 30-year wait to be crowned champions of England last season.
The two sides go head-to-head at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with the Blues currently ahead of the Reds on goal difference after they both won their opening games of the new season against Brighton & Hove Albion and Leeds United respectively.
Liverpool finished 33 points ahead of Chelsea last season as Lampard's side finished fourth, completing a league double over the Londoners with a 5-3 victory at Anfield preceding the Reds being presented with the Premier League trophy.
Jurgen Klopp and Lampard came to blows that night, with the Chelsea boss recently admitting he regrets his actions, however, the duo have also since clashed over the Blues' summer transfer business.
And having reportedly spent over £200m to sign the likes of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell and Hakim Ziyech, Lampard has conceded his side still have plenty of work to do if they are to overhaul Liverpool this season.
"We definitely want to close that gap to Liverpool," he said after his side's 3-1 win at Brighton. "We have to have intentions to be up there even though it is a big ask to win [the title].
"We are behind, it's step by step. Hopefully we can make big strides."
