Thursday 2 February 2017 13:10, UK
Following the announcement of Frank Lampard's retirement, we look back at his most memorable Premier League goals.
5. v Crystal Palace – Stamford Bridge, 2005
Trademark Lampard. Afforded far too much time by a bewildered Crystal Palace backline, Lampard took aim from fully 30 yards and unleashed an unstoppable effort past goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly to set Chelsea on their way to another victory.
Lampard’s strike was emblematic of the Blues' form that campaign, as they crushed all who lay in their path – amassing 95 points and securing their first Premier League title.
4. v Hull – KC Stadium, 2008
Renowned for his powerful efforts from outside the penalty area, Lampard displayed pure finesse to put his side into an early lead on Humberside with this beauty.
As the ball was deflected into his path, we all expected the former England midfielder to put everything behind a long-range attempt, but as the Tigers defence rushed towards him, Lampard effortlessly chipped the ball over a stranded Boaz Myhill in the home goal to find the net. Beautiful.
3. v Norwich – Stamford Bridge, 2004
A week before Christmas, Lampard gave the Stamford Bridge faithful an early present with this ferocious strike in 2004.
Picking up Arjen Robben’s lay-off, Lampard was again afforded too much time to pick his spot, and he punished Norwich in emphatic style, lashing the ball into the top corner as Chelsea earned a 4-0 win – their first in a run of eight successive victories.
2. v Hull – Stamford Bridge, 2013
It was a tense day in west London as Jose Mourinho began his second spell in charge of Chelsea, but almost immediately he was reminded that his talisman had never changed.
As Lampard lined up a free-kick, it looked too far out to have a go at goal, but as the wall winced, the Blues' all-time top goalscorer hammered the ball past Allan McGregor to net his third career goal against Hull, and the second to make this list.
1. v Everton – Goodison Park, 2006
With Chelsea trailing 2-1 at Goodison Park, Everton looked set to secure a famous win against the reigning champions, but cometh the hour, cometh Frank Lampard.
From a seemingly impossible angle, with a sea of bodies in his vision, Lampard fired a dipping, swerving strike past the despairing dive of Tim Howard to level proceedings, and prove once again that he can produce his very best when it matters most.
