LONDON: Frank Lampard provided a timely reminder of his value to Chelsea by scoring twice as his side reclaimed third place in the Premier League, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Everton on Sunday.

The 34-year-old England midfielder, whose contract expires at the end of the season, cancelled out Steven Pienaar's opener shortly before half-time and then claimed the winner with 18 minutes remaining at Goodison Park.

Victory moved Rafael Benitez's side above Tottenham Hotspur into third place, four points behind second-placed Manchester City and with a game in hand, while Everton remain sixth, three points below the top four.

In the final Premier League game of 2012, Liverpool comfortably overcame Queens Park Rangers 3-0 at Loftus Road to climb to ninth and leave Harry Redknapp's side eight points from safety at the foot of the table.

"It was very hard. This is always one of the most difficult games of the season," said Lampard.

"We have to keep believing this season - there is a long way to go. We can only win our games then rely on other things."

Defeat prevented Everton from asserting their Champions League credentials, but they had started the game in menacing fashion and took the lead after just 63 seconds.

Victor Anichebe met stand-in right-back Phil Jagielka's floated cross with a header that came back off the left-hand post and Pienaar charged in to spear the ball past Petr Cech, who was making his 400th Chelsea appearance.

Nikica Jelavic then hit the same portion of woodwork with a free-kick, before Lampard equalised in the 42nd minute when he met Ramires' cross with a precisely directed downward header.

Chelsea lost Cech to an apparent ankle injury at half-time and his replacement, Ross Turnbull, was beaten by a Jelavic header in the 69th minute, only for the crossbar to come to his rescue.

The winning goal arrived three minutes later, Lampard nudging the ball into the roof of the net after Tim Howard saved from Juan Mata to give the Blues a fourth consecutive league win.

At Loftus Road, all Liverpool's goals arrived in the first half an hour, with Luis Suarez opening the scoring with a sinewy solo goal in the 10th minute before doubling his tally from close range six minutes later.

Daniel Agger headed in the third from a Steven Gerrard cross to cheer ailing manager Brendan Rodgers, who was told not to attend the game by the club's medical staff after picking up a bug.

"Luis Suarez has been brilliant since he's come to the club," said Gerrard.

"He's a magician. These players only have to play against him twice a year - we have to train with him every day!"

There is a full program of Premier League games on New Year's Day and January 2, with leaders Manchester United visiting Wigan Athletic and Manchester City hosting Stoke City.