Lampard: Too soon for Villa
I personally feel it may come too early for them this campaign.
Lampard on Villa's top four hopes
Quotes of the week
Chelsea's Frank Lampard has questioned whether Aston Villa have enough quality this season to break into the Premier League's top four.
While the England international believes Villa are a quality side, he thinks that competing in next season's UEFA Champions League may be a bridge too far.
Martin O'Neill's side are currently fourth in the table following a blistering start to the campaign, but Lampard says the two crucial things needed for them to stay there will not happen.
The former West Ham midfielder cannot see Villa being consistent enough to retain their lofty position or one of the current 'big four' dropping enough points for the Midlands outfit to take their place.
"They are a team looking to break into the top four and while I personally feel it may come too early for them this campaign, that won't prevent them from having a go," he told the Sunday Mirror.
"I accept you never say never but they will have to rely heavily on immense consistency while relying one of the top four to have a massive blip in form."

Ancelotti won't panic buy
Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea
Champions League round-up - Nov 3rd
Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea - Ancelotti
A Madrid 2-2 Chelsea - Drogba
Bolton 0-4 Chelsea - Ancelotti
Bolton 0-4 Chelsea - Megson
Bolton 0-5 Chelsea - Thompson
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Chelsea vs Man Utd |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | FC Porto vs Chelsea |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Arsenal vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 2nd December | |
| Carling Cup | |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Man City vs Chelsea |
| Tuesday 8th December | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Chelsea vs Apoel Nicosia |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Everton |
| Wednesday 16th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Chelsea vs Portsmouth |
| Sunday 20th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | West Ham vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Birmingham vs Chelsea |
| Monday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Fulham |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Hull vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Sunderland |
| Wednesday 27th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Chelsea vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 17:30 | Burnley vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Arsenal |
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Everton vs Chelsea |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 3rd November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Atletico Madrid 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Wednesday 28th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Chelsea 4 - 0 Bolton | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 5 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Wednesday 21st October | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Chelsea 4 - 0 Atletico Madrid | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Sunday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Liverpool | |
| Wednesday 30th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Apoel Nicosia 0 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 3 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Wednesday 23rd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 QPR | |
| Sunday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Tuesday 15th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 FC Porto | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 3 - 0 Burnley | |
| Sunday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 1 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunday 9th August | |
| FA Community Shield | |
| Chelsea 2 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Reading 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Monday 27th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Club America | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 11 | 27 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 11 | 25 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 11 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 21 |
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With Didier Drogba in frightening form, Paul Merson expects Chelsea to beat Man Utd on Sunday.
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans says Fernando Torres is harder to defend against than Didier Drogba.
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Carlo Ancelotti believes his players are at the peak of their careers, with several more good years to come.
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