Arsenal title winner Paul Merson slammed the performance of Mason Mount in Chelsea's defeat at Southampton.
James Ward-Prowse scored the only goal of the game from a Saints' free-kick to compound problems for Graham Potter's Blues.
Chelsea have won just once in all competitions in 2023 so far, and they are now 10 points adrift of fourth place in the race for a Champions League spot.
"I don't see this stopping, I don't," Merson said. "They're bought a lorry load of individuals, I'm afraid. They've not bought anybody for the team, it's all dribblers.
"Forget Enzo Fernandez, he's a top player, he's a holding midfield player but the others Mount played today and he got eaten up."
Mount featured for the opening hour of the lacklustre defeat, before being withdrawn in favour of Kai Havertz.
In the second 45 minutes, Chelsea looked more promising going forward. However, they could not find a way onto the scoresheet.
"People were dribbling, there were no phases of the game," Merson fumed. "It's only when Havertz came on and he started playing with [Joao] Felix and [Raheem] Sterling that there were passages of play.
"But I don't see this stopping."