CHELSEA INTERIM manager Rafael Benitez once again brushed aside questions about Frank Lampard’s future at the club, stressing his job was just to keep the midfielder fit and scoring goals.
The 34-year-old is reportedly not going to have his contract renewed in the summer but the England international showed his true worth to the side again with two strikes in the 2-1 win at Everton.
Having gone behind to Steven Pienaar’s effort barely two minutes into the game Lampard pulled his side up to third with goals either side of half-time.
“Lampard is a great player, a good professional, who is doing well for us and I will try to bring the best out of him until the end of the season,” said Benitez.
QPR were ruthlessly dispatched by Liverpool but manager Harry Redknapp still believes his bottom-place side can stave off relegation.
Liverpool romped to a 3-0 victory, thanks to a Luis Suarez brace and Daniel Agger header inside 27 minutes.
“I think we’ll stay up still,” the Rs boss said. “You’ll think we’re mad, but I think we will stay up.
Arsene Wenger hopes Theo Walcott will sign a new contract “very soon” after watching the forward bag a stunning hat-trick in Saturday’s 7-3 hammering of Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium.
Walcott turned down a new contract at the end of last season and as it stands he can leave the Emirates Stadium next summer on a free transfer.
Robin van Persie revealed the sad postscript to his 17th goal of the season for Manchester United.
Van Persie struck in the final minute to seal a 2-0 win for West Brom before lifting his shirt to reveal the message: “rip tchuna we will never forget you”, a message related to a close friend of the Dutchman, who died on Saturday.
Van Persie’s superb curling effort kept United seven points clear of Manchester City.
City manager Roberto Mancini believes his side showed the character of champions after securing what could prove a crucial 4-3 victory with 10 men in a seven-goal thriller at Norwich.
City got off to the best possible start at Carrow Road, with a quickfire brace from recalled Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko inside four minutes.
A deflected free-kick from Anthony Pilkington halved the deficit, before midfielder Samir Nasri was shown a red card for pushing his head into Norwich defender Sebastien Bassong.
City, though, did not buckle and extended their lead at the start of the second half with a well-taken effort from Sergio Aguero and then twice withstood Norwich’s threatened comeback.