REVEALED: Chelsea boss Graham Potter has four issues to deal with to save job during World Cup

Chelsea were condemned to a third-consecutive Premier League defeat by Newcastle on Saturday, placing further pressure on boss Graham Potter.

The Blues head into the World Cup break a mammoth eight points outside the top four.

Potter must use the six-week suspension of domestic football to solve the many issues facing the west Londoners. Express Sport looks at four things the Chelsea head coach must do.

Summer signings to find form

It might be hard for Potter to get the best out of Chelsea’s £280m-worth of summer arrivals. After all, each of the seven signings were signed under Thomas Tuchel and were not Potter’s choices.

But the Chelsea boss needs those stars to begin performing. Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella have all produced too many poor displays.

Those four were all signed to upgrade their respective positions, but they have failed to improve the Chelsea team.

It might be hard for Potter to get the best out of Chelsea’s £280m-worth of summer arrivals. After all, each of the seven signings were signed under Thomas Tuchel and were not Potter’s choices.

But the Chelsea boss needs those stars to begin performing. Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella have all produced too many poor displays.

Those four were all signed to upgrade their respective positions, but they have failed to improve the Chelsea team.

Form a January transfer strategy

Despite spending close to £300m in the summer, the Blues look worryingly light of quality in at least a couple of positions. Potter needs upgrades in goal, at centre-back and up front.

A new striker is the most necessary signing. Aubameyang was a stop-gap purchase signed when it became clear that Chelsea’s main targets for the position would not be available in the summer.

Potter has said that he will sit down with the Stamford Bridge hierarchy to discuss a range of issues during the World Cup break. Given that several new appointments have been made to the recruitment team, the 47-year-old will hope that a clear strategy for January can be formed.

Win the big games

Chelsea’s record in the biggest games this season is dismal. They have failed to win any of three games against their fellow Big Six teams – and were beaten by Manchester City in the Carabao Cup.

Premier League games against City, Liverpool and Spurs all arrive before March. Potter must find a way of getting a win from one of those three matches.

If he does not, Chelsea will fall further away from the top four.