Slip-ups, circumstance conspire to beat up Blues

LONDON - Antonio Conte's Chelsea turned the Premier League title race into a procession in his first season in charge - however, numerous cracks have appeared that threaten to fatally undermine the Blues' current campaign.

The west London club accrued 93 points - the second-highest tally in the Premier League era - to finish seven points clear of nearest challenger Tottenham Hotspur, and a whopping 15 ahead of Manchester City last term.

This term, Chelsea is already nine points adrift of pacesetter City, with three defeats - the same as it suffered in the whole of last season.