After last night's defeat to surprise league leaders Leicester, Chelsea are just one point above the relegation zone as the Premier League season edges closer to the halfway point.
But while they are near the trap-door, nobody really sees them sensationally falling through it by the time next May comes around.
Performances on the pitch have not been great and manager Jose Mourinho's post-match comments are unlikely to have helped his relationship with his players.
The Sun's Deputy Head of Sport Content Martin Lipton told Off The Ball that he cannot see Mourinho still in charge of the club next season, even if he is not getting the sack in the short term.
But the London-based football journalist does not think talk of Chelsea being in a "false position" in the table is accurate.
"At the moment, you wouldn't be surprised if they finished third bottom. That's how bad they are. They are not in a false position because after 16 games, you are not in a false position. You are where you deserve to be and at some point, the manager has to take responsibility for that because he has been as shambolic as his players," said Lipton.
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