Jose Mourinho is adamant Chelsea will be able to recover if Tony Pulis claims a hat trick of wins in Sunday's clash at West Brom.
Pulis has masterminded successive wins over the Blues boss with Crystal Palace and then with the Baggies in May.
Chelsea are bidding to recover from their worst start to a season in 17 years, but Mourinho insists even a defeat and an eight-point gap to the top of the table would not cause him to panic.
"We can [afford to lose]," Mourinho said. "Eight points in England is 80 points in other leagues, because in other leagues, eight points is an eternity.
"It's very difficult in other leagues for teams to lose points. In England, teams lose points."
Chelsea conceded a handsome eight-point advantage last term when Manchester City drew level on New Year's Day, but the Blues managed to recover and win the title by the same margin, sealing the trophy before the loss at the Hawthorns.
Mourinho, who recently signed a four-year contract, laughed off suggestions he was near the top of bookmakers' lists to be sacked first this season.
"You don't have big chances of making money on that," he said. "Just a feeling, but I don't think I'm going to be sacked.
"The bookies want to make money. They don't want to lose money. I never heard about a bookmaker bankrupt.
"The ones that put the money there is money lost, so good for the bookies."