Chelsea woes continue as a Steven Naismith hat-trick consigned the Londoners to a painful 3-1 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park this afternoon.
It's now just four points from five games and just one win, with no sign of a recovery of form that has haunted Jose Mourinho's side ever since pre-season.
Naismith was only on the pitch as Muhamed Besic limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury on nine minutes.
But he loves playing Chelsea, haveing notched goals in the past three encounters in Merseyside.
An excellent start by Chelsea, pushing the home side back. Diego Costa almost snaked through the Everton defence but was dispossessed by John Stones on the their byline.
Some beautiful intricate one-touch play by Chelsea characterised their opening play, whereas Everton relied on humping the ball to Romelu Lukaku in the hope for a break.
However the first effort in goal came from the home side, with live wire Ross Barkley zipping in a low, left-foot that went wide of Asmir Begovic's goal after six minutes.
The first change was forced on Evertin when on nine minutes Muhamed Besic failed to shug off a tough knock from Kurt Zouma and was replaced by Steven Naismith.
But the tide seemed to turn when the Blues appeared to run out of puff, allowing Evrtin to gain greater possession of the ball.
But Everton's first quality move resulted in them taking the lead.
Sub Naismith started the move in midfield, Wong-footing Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas before sliding the ball wide to Brendan Galloway, in the left. He clipped the ball back to the centre of the six-yard box and Naismith planted a firm header past Begovic.
The Serbia goalkeeper then produced a fantastic couple of saves in quick succession to thwart Arouna Kone and then a pile driver from Barkely from long range.
Worse was to follow five minutes when a classy build-up play on the right saw the ball move to the left and when Naismith picked it up, he was unchallenged and was allowed to fire home a fierce left-footer past Begovic.
A lull in the game followed, allowing Chelsea's apparent demise to sink in with the Chelsea fans.
Then, on 35 minutes, and out of the Blue the ball was given to Matic, 30-yards out. He then let fly with an almighty left-footer that flashed past Tim Howard to reduced the deficit.
Confidence is a wonderful thing, and as it ebbed away from Everton, it raced through the Chelsea ranks in search of an equaliser. It almost came from the head of John Terry but that effort inched over the crossbar.
A knock-on by Ivanovic from a Eden Hazard drive, three minutes from the break, almost delivered the deserved equaliser, but again luck eluded Chelsea as the ball zipped past the goal.
There were no changes at half-time by either side. But like the first half, Chelsea started the second in the front foot.
But Mourinho sensing perhaps an injection of pace and trickery was needed replaced Mikel by Kenedy on 55 minutes.
This change in tactics, while positive for Chelsea going forward, also leaves them desperately prone to an incisive counter-attack.
This was the case on 68 minutes when a low Lukaku drive from close range, following a quick break was well saved by Begovic, who kicked the ball away for a corner at his near post.
Pedro made way for Radamel Falcao on 70 minutes.
But the expected goal-rush simply didn't happen.
Quite the opposite, and with eight minutes on the clock, Naismith completed his hat-trick, tucking the ball under Begovic's body at his near post to restore the two-goal lead.
Teams: Chelsea, Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Matic, Pedro, Fabregas, Hazard, Costa
Sub, Falcao, Nunes do Nascimento ( Kenedy) Remy, Willian, Cahill, Blackman, Loftus-Cheek
Everton,Howard, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Galloway, Besic, Barry, Kone, Barkley, McCarthey, Lukaku
Subs, Robles, Murallas, Lennon, Naismith, Deulofeu, Osman, Funes Mori
Referee Andre Marriner