Chelsea's season took its latest hit on Merseyside as Maurizio Sarri's side blew the chance to gain ground on top four rivals with defeat at Everton.
There has rarely been so much uncertainty surrounding the club with a one-year transfer ban looming, star man Eden Hazard edging towards the exit door and the future of boss Sarri less than secure.
Owner Roman Abramovich has not attended a game at Stamford Bridge this season and with hopes of securing Champions League football hanging by a thread, Sportsmail looks at areas of uncertainty for the Blues.
Chelsea's season took its latest hit on Sunday afternoon as they suffered defeat at Everton
Games: 50
Wins: 32
Draws: 7
Defeats: 11
Goals scored: 95
Goals conceded: 52
Defeat at Everton on Sunday saw pressure once more ramp up on Italian boss Maurizio Sarri.
The 60-year-old has appeared on the edge on a number of occasions this season - not least after a 4-0 defeat to Bournemouth and a 6-0 defeat to Manchester City.
In what was a crucial game in hand for the Blues, Sarri could not mastermind a needed victory and handed a boost to their top four rivals in Arsenal and Manchester United.
Sarri has questioned the mentality of his players this season and is struggling to imprint his 'Sarri-ball' philosophy effectively onto the group.
An exit from the FA Cup at home to Manchester United and losing the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City on penalties did little to ease the scrutiny on his position.
While he is unlikely to be axed in the international break, a failure to finish in the top four come May is likely to see his Chelsea reign brought to an end before next season unless he can galvanise his players to lift the Europa League.
With a transfer ban pending, the post could however prove off-putting to the club's top targets and that may give Sarri a stay of execution should he go the distance in the Europa League.
Pressure again mounted on boss Maurizio Sarri after Chelsea's defeat at Everton on Sunday
Chelsea have been handed a one-year transfer ban which would prevent them signing and registering any new players until summer 2020.
The club are on their second appeal to FIFA having seen initial requests denied and they are preparing to receive a decision from football's governing body before the upcoming summer window.
Chelsea were deemed to have breached rules regarding the signing of overseas players under the age of 18. A FIFA investigation cited breaches in 29 of the 92 cases they studied involving Chelsea, with forward Bertrand Traore, now at Lyon, the most widely suspected transfer.
The Premier League side deny any wrongdoing and are continuing their legal battle to see the punishment removed or reduced in severity.
Chelsea are continuing to fight FIFA's decision to put the club under a one-year transfer ban
Finishing inside the top
