Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has seen his old club fall on hard times in recent years, but he believes that the tide has started to turn under new head coach Enzo Maresca

Frank Lampard reckons that Chelsea have turned a corner under new head coach Enzo Maresca despite Sunday's loss at Liverpool.

The Blues have endured a difficult couple of years on the pitch despite spending more than PS1billion in the transfer market. They finished 12th in the 2022/23 campaign after axing Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter before Mauricio Pochettino led them to a sixth-placed finish last term.

Pochettino left the club in the summer, though, and was replaced by Maresca, who won the Championship title with Leicester City last season. Despite some initial scepticism over the appointment, the Italian has made a fine start to life at Stamford Bridge.

Their narrow 2-1 loss at Liverpool on Sunday was the first time the Blues have lost in the Premier League since they were beaten by Manchester City on the opening day.

Speaking to Premier League Productions, Lampard tipped Maresca to be given the time and backing to succeed, saying: "I think I've felt in the last two years I've been over at Stamford Bridge to watch games and there's been a different feeling, transition, fans are used to seeing teams win generally over the last 15, 20 years very regularly, they're not seeing it [now] so there's an element of frustration.

"I think now we're on the turning point of that as a feeling. So I think the support of the club is there, and there's a positive atmosphere and positive words and an idea that we're going in this direction. So I think that's a good thing for him.

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Maresca has made a positive impression so far at Stamford Bridge ( Image:

Alex Dodd/CameraSport) "I think in terms of his timing of coming into the job, a little bit of stability, and then he will need time to work, all managers will tell you that but he certainly will need that, so again, it comes to results will be the catalyst for that."

On Chelsea's performance at Anfield, Lampard added: "It's always disappointing when you feel like you probably done some good things in the game and the other team, someone with the quality of Liverpool aren't at their best, but you don't come away with anything,' Lampard told Premier League Productions.

"And maybe at the top end of the pitch, the game-changers we've seen, particularly Cole Palmer, didn't really have their moments when you felt that they might do.

"But they're probably lacking that little bit of an edge at the top end of the pitch really, some good stuff for them there but in the end they'll go home disappointed because at least you get something when you play like that."

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