Players behind Jose Mourinho: Chelsea midfielder Willian

Every single time they have been defeated, the expectation is that the Champions will come roaring back in the next game but the Chelsea lion has whimpered like a pussycat this season and we look ahead to their next four Premier League games and predict just how well they might do. He recorded far fewer assists in the second half of the season and was all round a lot less productive.

Mourinho may be under intense pressure behind the scenes, but the 52-year-old manager still has the full backing of the Chelsea faithful.

“Costa can start scoring goals again, but it will not be easy for him or Chelsea to recapture the form that gave them such an aura of invincibility”, said Aldridge.

Now Chelsea are struggling and Costa’s goals have dried up.

He said in his autobiography titled “commitment”: “I believe things often come in three-year cycles [and] we had arrived at the end of such a cycle”. “We have never put ourselves in a position where we second-guess him”.

Mikel is seen as a good utility player by Mourinho whilst Fabregas, who has been a shade of his former self since December, can play in a number of roles.

They welcome Norwich City to Stamford Bridge in their next premier league game.

Chelsea’s form has been a huge topic of conversation after each game so far this season for one reason or another, mostly down to below-par performances.

Costa converted 34.5% of his chances in the Premier League last season, a feat that is incredibly hard to keep up throughout an entire league campaign.

During Chelsea’s title-winning 2004-05 season, Mourinho’s side conceded just 15 goals in 38 games. Having shipped 23 already, it’s safe to say something isn’t right.

Statistically this season, both teams seem evenly matched. The memories here are the very best. I don’t think any footballer wants to lose a game. He is feeling like the rest of us who are fans. The players too have shown low spirits as their season has gone from bad to worse. The likes of Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic have failed to control the midfield as they have done previously and opposition teams have dictated the pace of play.

Ivanovic has missed the last seven matches because of a hamstring injury but could return to the starting line-up against Norwich this weekend.