After a turbulent opening few months to the campaign, Chelsea will be looking to finally get their season back on track when returning to Premier League action this weekend.
Norwich City visit Stamford Bridge sitting one point and one place above their opponents in the table, having ended their own barren run of form with a much-needed victory prior to the international break.
Chelsea
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Of all the damning stats regarding Chelsea's season to date - and there have been many of them - arguably the standout one concerns under-fire boss Jose Mourinho.
Never before in his 15 years of management has the Portuguese lost seven league games in a single campaign, a tally that was reached with the 1-0 reverse at Stoke City a fortnight ago.
In simple terms, Mourinho does not lose games. Not many of them, at least, as his highly-successful managerial career to date, including spells at European giants Real Madrid, Inter Milan and indeed Chelsea, has gone a long way to showing.
There is no denying that something is not quite right at Stamford Bridge this term, though, whether that be the players' attitude, Mourinho's vendetta-obsessed press conferences or perhaps a lack of strengthening back in the summer months.
Either way, with 12 games of the campaign now played it is highly unlikely - impossible some would suggest - that Chelsea will retain the title that they so comfortably won just seven months ago.
Finishing in the top four, thus securing a Champions League berth for next year, is realistically the top target now for a Blues side on a current three-match losing run in the top flight.
Not since October 1999 has that happened, while taking a wider look at results it is just two wins in 10 in all competitions, leaving the West London outfit in desperate need of results if this season is going to end on something of a high.
No team in the Premier League has allowed more shots on target than Chelsea from inside the box, which is perhaps telling when taking into account that only two other sides have conceded more goals overall.
Mourinho, who has been continuously backed by club chiefs during this darkest of spells, insists that he is confident his players have the quality to turn things around, and will not be looking to strengthen in January.
Those words have been uttered far too often over the past month or so, however, and with a packed schedule of football to come between now and the New Year, it is time for each Chelsea player to stand up and be counted.
Recent form in Premier League: DLWLLL
Recent form (all competitions): DLLLWL
Norwich City
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When the fixture list was released in the summer, this clash at Stamford Bridge would have been the one that made supporters take a deep breath in the knowledge that they were back in the big time.
An away meeting with the defending champions is as tough as they come, but here we are, nearly a third of the way through the campaign, and it is Norwich who find themselves in a slightly better position.
Things have certainly been tough for Alex Neil, who like his opposite number has faced arguably the toughest period of his managerial career to date over the past month.
Neil was lauded as a hero for guiding the Canaries to the Premier League last term, bringing a breath of fresh air to Carrow Road when replacing Neil Adams at the helm in January.
As that one-year anniversary approaches, the Scotsman will certainly be feeling a little more comfortable at the moment thanks to a huge 1-0 win over Swansea City prior to the two-week break.
Norwich, it is fair to say, had been slightly struggling up until that point, having lost four on the bounce - including a 6-2 hammering at Newcastle United - which left them perilously close to the danger zone.
Credit to Neil, though, because he has already shown that his side can pick up results when the pressure is on, as highlighted by the victories against fellow strugglers Sunderland and Bournemouth in the past.
Having now ended a seven-game winless run in the league, City will be targeting a famous triumph in West London to truly kick-start their season in order to put some distance between themselves and the drop zone.
With Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur all to come over the next five weeks, staying well afloat of danger is likely to be a very tough task.
Recent form in Premier League: DLLLLW
Recent form (all competitions): LLLLLW
Team News
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Chelsea were handed a big fitness boost earlier this week with the news that Thibaut Courtois is on track to make a welcome return to action, but that is not likely to be before December.
Asmir Begovic will deputise in his place, while Branislav Ivanovic could be involved at full-back following a recent layoff of his own.
One man who will be desperate to retain his place in attack is Eden Hazard, who has bagged two goals in four appearances against Norwich.
In terms of the visitors, Nathan Redmond's thigh problem appears to have cleared up in time for him play a part, yet the Canaries will be without injured winger Matt Jarvis.
There is some better news, however, as captain Russell Martin will be integrated back into the starting lineup following his one-match ban against the Swans last time out.
Dieumerci Mbokani could return up front in place of Cameron Jerome, having been involved in three of his side's last five goals.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Hazard, Pedro; Costa
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Tettey, Mulumbu, Hoolahan, Howson; Mbokani
Head To Head
Chelsea have not tasted defeat in any of their last 11 meetings with Norwich in all competitions, winning eight and drawing three of those games.
The last time the Blues lost against the East Anglian outfit was in December 1994, when Ashley Ward scored twice in a 3-0 home win for City.
Norwich won four and lost one of their first six Premier League games against Chelsea, but have not won any of the last eight since.
We say: Chelsea 3-1 Norwich City
Only two sides are on a worse run of form than Chelsea in the Premier League at the moment, which ultimately makes this a must-win game for Mourinho. The experienced boss has seen his job called into question numerous times this term, but anything less than victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon could be the final straw.
Daniel Lewis
