Liverpool can't say they hadn't been warned.
Despite losing Virgil van Dijk to a season-ending injury in October, life was still looking pretty rosy for the Reds back in December.
Victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the middle of the month even took them top of the table with Jurgen Klopp 's side looking, at that point, strong favourites to defend their title.
Obviously, we all know how and why Liverpool have unravelled in 2021 but a warning from their manager back at the start of December could be about to bite the Reds.
Despite his side's form and league position at the time, Klopp warned that he considered Chelsea to be this season's Premier League title favourites following their summer transfer business after seeing them temporarily leapfrog his side.
"If I watch football games at the moment then Chelsea, for me, look like favourites," the German told reporters on the eve of Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Wolves. "They have the biggest squad, great players playing well together after a rusty start - and they are full on.
"They have unbelievable opportunities to change in games and make changes from one game to the other - so that is it.
"I don't feel we are chasing anyone at the moment - or that anyone is chasing us.
"Pressure is there for us but it's about how much you think about that pressure, to be honest."
At the time eyebrows were raised at such claims with then-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard suggesting Klopp was playing mind-games.
"I'm not sure anyone actually really went for it," the former England international later replied. "I don't know (if it's mind-games), but he can have his opinion.
"I think Liverpool and Manchester City seem to be pretty much everyone's favourites, when they perform the way they have in the last three years, building up the squads they have over the last few years. Quite rightly so.
"Even with injuries you look at Liverpool's squad, the team they put out last night (against Wolves), they cope with those injuries. They have a big squad and most teams in the Premier League do.
"Tottenham are in the equation, so are Manchester United and so are others at this point. It's very tight."
He continued: "I think it's pretty clear where we are. We're in good form at the moment, but as I keep saying we have players who have come in, some younger players and players that have just come into the Premier League.
"Teams like City and Liverpool have had a lot of success with very established players in positions who have been performing at a really high level in the Premier league.
"So we are trying to get there and reach that, and that takes a lot of consistency over the months ahead."
Of course Liverpool and Chelsea would both drop away in the title-race with it now only a matter of time before Man City are named champions.
But with the Reds facing a battle just to qualify for next season's Champions League, Klopp's prediction has come right at the worst possible time for his side.
With five games left to go, it is Thomas Tuchel's side who sit in that desired fourth spot - four points clear of Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are well-placed to reach the Champions League final after drawing 1-1 away with Real Madrid, the Reds' own conquerors in the quarter-finals, in their semi-final first leg on Tuesday night.
And they still have the prospect of an FA Cup final to come against Leicester City next month.
Chelsea won't be getting their hands on the Premier League title in May, but they will be confident of finishing four and hopeful of winning silverware.
In contrast, Liverpool's demise leaves them on the outside looking in, knowing full well it won't be just Man City they have to topple if they want to bounce back next season.