Here is your Chelsea morning digest on Monday, December 14.
Cole makes Lampard claim
Former Chelsea winger Joe Cole believes Frank Lampard was right to play down his side's title chances after Jurgen Klopp's comments.
Liverpool boss Klopp called the Blues the favourites to win this season's Premier League title, which were quickly dismissed by Lampard and Cole has backed his former team-mate's response.
“Chelsea are somewhere in the middle. The way the league is set up, no one is running away with it – this is a bump in the mood road for Chelsea and there will be a bump in the road for Liverpool, for Tottenham, but he is still right to dampen the mood a little bit," Cole said on talkSPORT.
“I saw Jurgen Klopp named them (Chelsea) title contenders in his press conference last week, but I think Jurgen has been a bit smart. Chelsea will have days like this.”
Cascarino slates Werner and Havertz
Tony Cascarino has slated Kai Havertz and Timo Werner after their roles in Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to Everton on Saturday evening.
The Blues saw their 17-game unbeaten streak come to an end at Goodison Park, and Cascarino believes it was like playing with nine men throughout the game.
"Werner is struggling and hasn't scored in six now. Havertz found it really difficult yesterday, he was on the fringe of the game. He is another really talented player," the former Chelsea man told talkSPORT.
"At times, it felt like they were playing with nine men. I don't mean that they weren't putting any effort in, but they just didn't make anything happen. With that, Giroud didn't get any service."
Read the full story here.
Cech set to return to action
Chelsea legend Petr Cech is set to make a sensational return to action when the Blues' development squad take on Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
That's according to The Athletic, who are reporting that Cech will feature for the west London club's development side as they don't want Lucas Bergstrom to play twice in 48 hours after playing for the U18s on Saturday.
The former Czech Republic shot-stopper - who is now more of a technical/performance advisor for Chelsea - was named in Lampard's Premier League squad as emergency cover in October.
It would be some return to action for Cech; who, during his prime, was considered one of - if not, the - best goalkeeper in world football.
