Chelsea fans are looking towards the World Cup as a breather and a distraction. The tournament, which is getting its fair share of stick for logistical and political issues across the world, is now a way out for the Blues.
A countdown of matches to go until the end of this run reads just two. In an unprecedented two months for Graham Potter he's 12 games into the 14 he had to get through before the Premier League breaks up. Two weeks ago and Chelsea might not have wanted the season to stop, now they're desperate.
A run of just two points from four league games has rapidly halted progress for Potter and the unavoidable contrast against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge only posed as more indication of how far the Blues have slipped. It's the same issues with a new manager and an even bigger clearing up job.
READ MORE Every word Graham Potter said on Chelsea vs Arsenal, Mount decision, fan patience, Saka and more
Things don't stop here for Potter though. There are two more matches to go until the World Cup, and they're both against sides in better form, above them in the league and away from home.
football.london takes a look at the next set of fixtures for Chelsea and how that looks compared to their current top four rivals.
Chelsea's next four fixtures:
Manchester City (A) - November 9, Carabao Cup
Things don't get any easier for Potter. Next up is a trip to the Premier League champions and second placed Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola's side are two points behind Arsenal at the top of the table and motoring along but realistically neither side particularly wants this game. Chelsea are already without Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, N'Golo Kante and Kepa Arrizabalaga through injury. Mateo Kovacic and Kalidou Koulibaly are both being carefully managed.
The one bonus for the Blues may be that Guardiola decides to rest Erling Haaland, but it is still a daunting test right before the break.
Newcastle United (A) - November 12
An unlikely top four battle match, Chelsea then end the first part of the season with a trip to St James' Park. Newcastle are sitting third in the league, six points ahead of Chelsea, and have only lost one match this season.
Eddie Howe's men, backed by some brilliant January and summer business, are one of the form teams in the league and have their mojo back. This is exactly the fixture Chelsea won't have wanted to end on. With a lively atmosphere and plenty of energy, the pressure will be on to end a poor recent patch of form for Potter otherwise it could be a miserable winter.
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.
Tottenham's next four fixtures:
Nottingham Forest (A) - November 9, Carabao Cup
Leeds United (H) - November 12
Brentford (A) - December 26
Aston Villa (H) - January 1
Liverpool's next four fixtures:
Derby (H) - November 9, Carabao Cup
Southampton (H) - November 12
Aston Villa (A) - December 26
Leicester City (H) - December 30
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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