Chelsea’s struggles in the Premier League continued as they dropped to 6th place following a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Friday night. With Manchester City and Bournemouth both securing victories on Saturday, the Blues have now fallen out of the top four, putting their Champions League hopes in serious jeopardy.

Manchester City leapfrogged Chelsea into 4th place after an emphatic 4-0 win over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium. A first-half hat-trick from Omar Marmoush and a second-half goal from James McAtee sealed the win for Pep Guardiola’s side, who now sit one point ahead of the Blues.

Bournemouth also moved above Chelsea into 5th place after a 3-1 away victory at Southampton, further compounding the Blues’ misery.

Chelsea’s recent form has been worrying, with only two wins in their last nine Premier League games. This poor run has put them at serious risk of missing out on Champions League qualification unless they can turn things around quickly.

Despite the recent slump, Chelsea remain just one point behind 4th-placed Manchester City and four points off 3rd-placed Nottingham Forest. However, with their current trajectory, things could get even worse if results do not improve soon.

With crucial fixtures ahead, Enzo Maresca’s side must find a way to regain form quickly if they hope to secure a top-four finish and return to Europe’s elite competition next season.