Frank Lampard had been hoping Cristiano Ronaldo would score the 700th goal of his club career before Everton faced Manchester United because he "could feel" what might otherwise come.
The Blues boss said he had followed the Red Devils' encounter with Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League on Thursday, thinking it might be helpful for the Portugal international to reach the milestone then.
But the 37-year-old failed to score in midweek and instead hit the landmark at Goodison Park on Sunday after coming on for Anthony Martial in the first half. The goal proved decisive a s United held out for a 2-1 win and ended Everton's six game unbeaten streak in the Premier League.
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Lampard, speaking after the match, said of Ronaldo: "When he was on 699 I wanted him to score in the Europa League the other night. I could feel what might come at the weekend and then he comes on because Martial has got a problem and sometimes those things happen in football."
Ronaldo's goal came as Everton looked set to make it to half-time with the scores level after struggling to regain a foothold in the game following Antony's equaliser in the 15th minute. Alex Iwobi had given the home side the lead with a wonderful effort from the edge of the box. After dominating the rest of the first 45 minutes United found the lead when, moments before the break, Casemiro played Ronaldo behind the Everton defence and he slotted the ball beneath Jordan Pickford.
It was the latest goal in a remarkable career. Asked what he thought of Ronaldo's individual achievements Lampard, who played against him for England and Chelsea - with both scoring in the 2008 Champions League final that was won by United, said: "It is just outstanding isn't it. He is one of the greatest players that has graced the game. In an era when we have himself and Messi the comparison doesn't matter, they are just both incredible players in football's history.
"To be going and to look as physically good as he looks, and to keep scoring goals as he has done, and to rack up the numbers he has racked up that just become normal, abnormal numbers that become normal year after year, looking after himself in the right way, I don't know him particularly well but you can do nothing but admire those numbers. They are amazing."
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