Chelsea only have one remaining game before the World Cup break and it's a vital one for Graham Potter. The mood at the club has turned and worsened in recent weeks with no leeway given to the new manager.
The 47-year-old is navigating not only a tough run of fixtures but also injuries, a mid-season appointment and unprecedented congestion and intensity to the schedule, but that hasn't earnt him any special treatment after defeats to Brighton, Arsenal and now Manchester City.
The loss at the Etihad on paper is perhaps not unexpected, but when it comes off the back of a poor week, it has made for a serious enquiry as to his suitability for the role and the appointment in the first place.
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Potter is in it for the long haul though, and there is just one match to go until he can reset and take some time to gather his thoughts.
Here's what is coming up on the fixture list before and after Qatar 2022.
Newcastle (A) - November 12
Next up, and finally before the break, the Blues travel to Newcastle. The Magpies have still only lost one match this season and sit third in the league.
They are perhaps coming into this fixture as favourites against Potter's struggling Chelsea for the first time in recent memory.
Chelsea did win there 3-0 last season but will be without Reece James, who scored two in the north east. Without some of his key players, Potter can ill-afford to fall further behind his top four rivals, but the situation doesn't get any easier.
Bournemouth (H) - December 27
Where Chelsea lay ahead of the league's resumption in seven weeks, who knows. They will have an extra day of rest though after not being given a Boxing Day slot.
Bournemouth themselves have slipped after a mini-revival following Scott Parker's sacking and have won just one of their last six. Chelsea have a poor record against the Cherries at Stamford Bridge though and have lost three of their five league meetings at home.
World Cup pending, Chelsea should be able to call upon the services of James, Fofana and Kepa for this match and may have a better indication of Kovacic and Koulibaly's long-term fitness too.
Nottingham Forest (A) - January 1
Putting a torrid 2022 behind them, Chelsea enter the new year with a trip to newly promoted Nottingham Forest as the January transfer window opens.
After a tough patch of fixtures throughout November and December, two new teams provide Potter a chance to build some form into the second half of the season.
Manchester City (A) - January 5
After several games to get accustomed to club football again Chelsea will be back at the Etihad, this time in the league.
Pep Guardiola's men are hitting top form and have the World Cup coming at the wrong time for them, but with Erling Haaland having the chance to rest over the next six weeks, the Norweigan will be ready and in full flow by the time Chelsea visit.
This will be a big test of how quickly Potter's men can get back up to speed.
Tottenham's next four fixtures:
Leeds United (H) - November 12
Brentford (A) - December 26
Aston Villa (H) - January 1
Crystal Palace (A) - January 4
Liverpool's next four fixtures:
Southampton (H) - November 12
Aston Villa (A) - December 26
Leicester City (H) - December 30
Brentford (A) - January 2
Manchester United's next four fixtures:
Aston Villa (H) - November 10, Carabao Cup
Fulham (A) - November 13
Nottingham Forest (H) - December 27
Wolves (A) - December 31
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