Frank Lampard laments Chelsea’s lack of ‘killer instinct’ and acknowledges need to sign a new striker

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says his side need to add new signings in attack, after watching the Blues succumb to a late defeat at Newcastle.

His team remain in fourth place despite the 1-0 loss, but Chelsea will feel they should have had three points after dominating the vast majority of the game.

In fact, this was the fourth time this season Chelsea have had at least 60 per cent possession in a game, yet failed to score and ended up losing.

And Lampard said it was evident that he felt additions were needed to rectify the situation.

“If we are looking for people to bring in to the areas to win games when you are controlling it, it is scoring goals,” he explained after the game.

“It’s clear from what I’m saying we know where we need to strengthen.

“We know we have problems at the top of the pitch in terms of we don’t get enough goals. If you don’t score you are always liable for a sucker punch and they got it.”

Despite Lampard’s misgivings about his team’s profligacy, Chelsea remain the fourth-highest scorers in the top flight.

By contrast, they rank only seventh in terms of their defensive record, with 30 goals against in 23 games being more than the likes of Crystal Palace and Sheffield United.

But Lampard is insistent that the players are doing all they can to put matters right, and only a different mindset in that area of the pitch will see them make headway.

“We can’t work any more in training on finishing. You need to have that killer instinct in front of goal. We need to score more goals from front-line areas if we are going to get to where we want to be.”

Next up, Chelsea play Arsenal on Tuesday, who have scored nine fewer and conceded two more than the Stamford Bridge club – though are down in 10th after a largely dismal campaign.

Tammy Abraham is the club’s top scorer in the league this season, with 13 to his name, but no other player has managed more than five.

Chelsea have been linked with Timo Werner this month, however, the RB Leipzig striker is determined to finish the season in Germany with the club currently topping the Bundesliga.

Moussa Dembele had been another player linked with a move to Stamford Bridge before Lyon's president categorically ruled out selling the forward in January.