Nigeria midfielder, John Obi Mikel, could not save Jose Mourinho and Chelsea as Liverpool thumped the Blues 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Mikel was in action for 62 minutes as the Reds ramped up the pressure on Mourinho – inflicting a SIXTH Premier League defeat of the season on the Portuguese.
The visitors fell behind to Ramires’ early header but fought back to claim a deserved three points, with Philippe Coutinho scoring twice and Christian Benteke adding a late third.
Jurgen Klopp wildly celebrated the win – his first in the Premier League since replacing Brendan Rodgers in the Anfield hotseat – but his managerial counterpart Mourinho wore the look of man who knows his time could be up.
Chelsea have won just three of their 11 league games this season and are 15th in the table following their latest defeat.
Owner Roman Abramovich had given Mourinho a vote of confidence earlier this month, but with the club’s woeful form continuing, he may be forced to consider his stance.
It had started so well for Mourinho’s men against Liverpool as they made the breakthrough inside four minutes.
Ramires had not scored at Stamford Bridge since December 2013, but the midfielder showed a striker’s instinct to hold off Alberto Moreno and head home Cesar Azpilicueta’s pinpoint cross.
Chelsea failed to build on their early breakthrough, however, and Liverpool enjoyed the majority of possession as they grew into the game.
Coutinho, operating behind frontman Roberto Firmino, had looked their biggest threat throughout the first-half and it was the tricky Brazilian who pulled the visitors level two minutes into injury time.
Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, Coutinho cut inside Ramires and curled a delightful left-footed shot past the despairing dive of Asmir Begovic.
It was a deserved leveller for Liverpool and they continued to put the hosts, who looked nervous throughout, under pressure in the second half.
The anonymous Eden Hazard was replaced with Kenedy as Mourinho desperately attempted to spark his side into life, but it failed to have any positive effect.
Liverpool continued to dominate and their pressure finally told as Coutinho claimed his second on 74 minutes – his shot from edge of the area deflecting off the back of John Terry and past Begovic.
Substitute Benteke then added to Chelsea’s misery as he struck a third after Gary Cahill and Terry had backed off to leave Mourinho on the brink.
A frustrated Mourinho was left speechless and stunned as he told reporters he had “nothing to say” when asked about his team’s performance and possible sack.
Asked whether it was time to address the fans after a disaster run, Mourinho simply added: “The fans are not stupid.”
And on whether he felt under more pressure from the board and the club following yet another defeat Mourinho responded: “No”
