Chelsea's hopes for a top-four finish suffered another setback as Filip Jorgensen's late goalkeeping error handed Aston Villa a 2-1 victory at Villa Park on Saturday.
Despite a promising start that saw Enzo Fernandez put the Blues ahead in the ninth minute through Pedro Neto's excellent wing play, Chelsea's recent struggles continued as they dropped points from a winning position for the third consecutive match.
The Argentine midfielder Fernandez, who earned an impressive 8/10 rating, could have extended Chelsea's lead with two more first-half chances, including a header that went just wide from Cole Palmer's cross and a curling effort that landed on the roof of the net.
The momentum shifted gradually in Villa's favor, though Jorgensen initially made some crucial saves, including a notable stop against Ollie Watkins. Marc Cucurella also contributed with a vital diving block to deny the England striker.
The hosts' persistence paid off in the 59th minute when Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford set up Marco Asensio for the equalizer, which stood after a lengthy VAR review. The game opened up considerably after that, with both Neto and Palmer missing good opportunities to restore Chelsea's lead.
The decisive moment came in the 90th minute when Paris Saint-Germain loanee Asensio's shot somehow found its way under Jorgensen, who undid his earlier good work with a costly error that may well see Robert Sanchez return to the starting lineup.
The defeat extends Chelsea's poor run of form, with just two wins in their last nine Premier League games. More concerningly, they have now dropped 15 points from winning positions this season, highlighting a recurring issue with game management.
Among the individual performances, Pedro Neto stood out with an 8/10 rating for his constant threat and excellent assist, while Christopher Nkunku's anonymous display (4/10) did little to address Chelsea's ongoing striker concerns. Cole Palmer, usually a reliable performer, showed only flashes of his usual brilliance in what was a subdued performance.
The result leaves Chelsea in sixth place, with Villa leapfrogging them into seventh, further complicating Enzo Maresca's side's pursuit of European qualification for next season.
