High noon. Well, 12.45pm. Will Jose Mourinho still be in charge of Chelsea after Saturday lunchtime’s clash with Liverpool at the Bridge?

Appropriately for Halloween, he wears a haunted look. Composure has gone, replaced by a tetchiness summed up by the loss of self-control at Upton Park which saw him banished from the touchline.

On Tuesday night the Blues tumbled out of the League Cup at Stoke, missing out on a place in the quarter-finals after Eden Hazard’s effort was saved in a penalty shoot-out.

Now Mourinho’s future in west London hangs on the visit of Jurgen Klopp’s Scousers.

What's up at the Bridge? If I had a quid for everyone who asked, I could afford a replica shirt.

• Pre-season was disjointed, failing to lay firm foundations.

• Summer recruitment was late and looked panicky.

• Giving The Special One a £30m four-year contract has unsettled him; he’s been out of sorts ever since.

• Losing Petr Cech to Arsenal and Thibaut Courtois to long-term injury means the defence is playing in front of a right-footer after 11 years of left-footers. John Terry’s under-pressure back pass to Asmir Begovic’s wrong foot at Upton Park led to the Hammers’ winner last weekend.

• Apart from Steve Holland, Jose’s coaching team are a let-down. Hot-head Rui Faria is like a terrier with toothache, while Silvino Louro led the exodus to the stands at Upton Park, sent off moments before the gaffer.

The support crew only excel at their "synchronised swimmer" routine, when they leap from the bench as one to berate the nearest official.

Stamford Bridge will be tense this weekend. Chelsea v Liverpool needs no added spice, but fate has slipped this one a shovelful of chili.

Whatever happens, the Blues need rebuilding, both in confidence and – long-term – in personnel. Troubled Jose is running out of road, and even three points on Saturday is no guarantee he’ll survive as boss.