Frank Lampard wary of Wolves and Leicester but remains adamant that Chelsea have no need to panic

It was not so much an admission, but more recognition of the unavoidable truth when Frank Lampard stated that Chelsea are in the firing line of the Premier League’s top-six wannabes.

One of those trying to take advantage of Chelsea’s situation, Leicester City, have already drawn at Stamford Bridge and another, Wolverhampton Wanderers, entertain Lampard’s team at Molineux on Saturday.

Lampard also named West Ham United and Everton as two more clubs who have spent heavily in a bid to cash in on Chelsea’s transfer ban and the loss of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.

Chelsea have already displayed vulnerability during their opening four games, which have yielded two draws, one defeat and a single victory against Norwich City.

Wolves are still searching for their first Premier League win of the season and yet they will be smelling blood from the visit of a Chelsea team still without N’Golo Kante and also missing left-back Emerson Palmieri.

The return of Antonio Rudiger may help to solve some of the defensive issues that have seen Chelsea concede nine goals, one fewer than Norwich, but Lampard can understand why the Blues have lost their fear factor for now.

“It was always going to be the way,” said Lampard. “Particularly from our point of view, we always want to be competitive but we’re all very honest about the situation here: Eden moved on, and two number nines (Alvaro Morata and Gonzalo Higuain) moved on who were the number nines generally last season.

“Younger players are coming in, we have to give ourselves a little bit [of time], but we still want to be in there. But that’s not just the story, because you look at the teams that have invested heavily; Everton, West Ham, Leicester. There are teams that quite rightly will be competing and will have ambitions to get in there, so that’s challenging for all of us.”

Asked whether he can understand why the likes of Wolves can sense an opportunity this season, Lampard added: “Yeah, they should do. They should do because from almost being able to write the top four down at the start of the season, certainly now you can’t.

“A top six you can’t write down because, with the playing field of what we have got now, where teams are investing heavily, you have to respect them. They are well managed, they have good players, they are competitive. There are no easy games in the Premier League, more than ever.

“We’ve seen it changing before our eyes because I remember last year people talking about Everton and Leicester. And Wolves probably came on their own, competing towards the top six and I think that is the landscape.”

Whatever happens at Molineux, however, Lampard insists it will still be too early to start jumping to conclusions over Chelsea’s prospects.

“If anyone’s jumping to conclusions, it’s because they’re looking at Liverpool and City, because they are the dominant teams who have got good results so far, particularly Liverpool,” said Lampard.

“We’re on the same points as Manchester United and Tottenham. Other teams that might be less fancied than us are on higher points than us, so I think now is certainly too early to make long-term predictions.”