It started with a loud message from Maurizio Sarri to a naughty boy and it ended with whispers that the manager could well leave Chelsea before Callum Hudson-Odoi does. In the context of this shambles of a performance, that felt distinctly plausible.
They can be brilliant under the Italian - we know that, we’ve seen that. A blue wrecking ball. But goodness, when it goes wrong, it goes so very wrong.
Whether it costs Sarri his job remains to be seen. Likewise on whether their fall outside the top four proves to be more than temporary.
But judging from this game, which delivered their heaviest league defeat since 1996, and too many others by smaller scores, you have to wonder.