For Chelsea, the international break perhaps could not have come at a better time. The Blues really are suffering from a case of the blues as they have now lost four out of their last five games - including three in a row - and are closer to the relegation zone than anywhere near defending their league crown. With a third of the season now done, Jose Mourinho's side will be desperate to get things right against Norwich City later today.
Chelsea
Many Chelsea fans are still reeling in shock with their team's performances so far this season. Although they have fared decently in the Champions League, the London giants are a far cry from the team that went on to celebrate being crowned Premier League champions just six months ago. Last season, they conceded just 32 goals over an entire 38-round campaign. This time around, they have let in a shocking 23 - an average of over 2 per game - and only Sunderland and Bournemouth, who are in the relegation spots, have fared worse.
To further illustrate the dire situation Chelsea are in: last season, they lost only three matches. At this juncture, they have already doubled that tally and more, with seven defeats in just 12 games. On top of that, all aspects of the team have been poor, from their leaky defense to their inefficient attack. Certainly, Mourinho has quite a lot of work to do if he wants to have any chance at salvaging their season and they will need to start by defeating Norwich at Stamford Bridge. Once a fortress, Chelsea's home fort has been breached three times this season and they will certainly not want to allow struggling Norwich to be the the fourth team to achieve this.
Mourinho will still be without first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, and Eden Hazard, who missed out on Belgium's training sessions due to illness could start from the bench, or may not feature at all. Kurt Zouma did not make any appearances for his native France due to fitness problems and Radamel Falcao, who still continues to struggle in the Premier League is out with another muscular issue. Meanwhile, Branislav Ivanovic - who has been one of the team's most disappointing performers this season - has recovered from his hamstring injury and will hope to redeem himself in the eyes of Chelsea fans.
Norwich City
If Chelsea have had it tough, Norwich have not fared any better. However, it's the visitors who are actually looking down on the reigning Premier League champions, with their 12 points seeing them sitting in 15th place. Like Chelsea, they have lost four out of their last five games, but unlike the Blues, the Canaries will be coming into this game having won their most recent fixture against Swansea.
However, Alex Neil's side, who won promotion from the Championship, have a poor record against their upcoming opponents. In their last 11 games, they have yet to beat Chelsea, and in fact, one will have to go back over two decades to find the last time Norwich earned a win against them - back on December 10, 1994. And the last time they actually beat Chelsea at their home ground? October 16, 1993.
Mourinho defiantly remains on the bench and claims he has the backing of the club's board, but the pressure will be firmly on him to earn all three points and get Chelsea back to winning ways.
Will they be able to turn things around? Or will Norwich cause yet another upset?
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