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CRUCIAL MISTAKE: A defensive error by the usually reliable Frank Lampard led to Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt (centre) scoring past Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech (left) during their Champions League semi-final first-leg match at Anfield on Tuesday. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. -- PHOTO: AFP
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LIVERPOOL - A TROUBLED Frank Lampard has given Chelsea a boost, saying he is ready for Saturday's Premier League showdown with Manchester United.
'I am sure I will be okay for Saturday,' said the midfielder, whose mother Pat was very ill at one time with pneumonia.
'It has been a positive few days from what was a very desperate situation last week.'
Overall, he was disappointing in Tuesday's Champions League first leg of the semi-final draw at Liverpool.
He even lost possession at the edge of his own penalty box when trying to dribble his way out of trouble, and that led to Dirk Kuyt's opener for Liverpool.
Lampard admitted he was not in the right state of mind, nor in peak physical condition.
The England midfielder had missed two matches last week to be at the hospital bedside of his mother.
'I have been in better shape for games both mentally and physically but it has been a very difficult week,' he confessed on Sporting Life. 'It was tough mentally but, once the game started, I just concentrated on the job.'
An improvement in her condition gave him the motivation to turn out at Anfield: 'She is stable at the minute and that gave me a bit of a clear mind to play.
'I won't go into details but we were getting a very bleak outlook. That was the hardest moment for me in my life.
'My mum and dad follow me up and down the country and, hopefully, all being well, my mum will come round.'
The turnaround in his mother's health mirrors that in Chelsea's fortunes.
Just five weeks ago, they were set up for a clash with Champions League nemeses Liverpool in the draw for Europe's top-club competition.
This, after they had suffered a League Cup final loss and a humiliating FA Cup exit to Barnsley in successive months, while failing to close the gap to Arsenal in the Premier League.
Their season looked to be headed for oblivion.
Now, though, things are suddenly looking up.
So much so that Avram Grant fielded every question at the post-match press conference with a glint in his eye, and a barely suppressed smile playing on his lips.
For months, the Israeli, who still does not have the qualification to coach a Premier League team, has been told he is out of his depth at the highest level.
He has also faced constant speculation linking more glamorous names with his job.
But now, after a lacklustre display that reaped more reward than it deserved, his luck may have finally changed.
He is 90 minutes away from delivering Chelsea's first Champions League final appearance.
And then, there is the little matter of the English title decider this Saturday.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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