Xabi Alonso will lean on the experience of veteran midfielder Jordan Henderson for Saturday evening's fierce London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham.

The Blues saw eight players shown the red card in the 2025/26 Premier League season but since Alonso took the reins in the summer, his team have been able to keep 11 men on the pitch at all times.

The likes of Henderson, 36, Danny Welbeck, 35, and Emiliano Martinez, 34, were all signed in the summer transfer window as Alonso aimed to change the culture at Stamford Bridge.

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It's a case of so far, so good based on the little evidence we have available at the time of writing, but Alonso will know more after Saturday evening's heated showdown with Spurs in SW6.

Chelsea and Tottenham is usually a heated encounter - as demonstrated by the 'Battle of the Bridge' in 2016 which produced a whopping 12 yellow cards - but Alonso is confident his players can keep cool heads this evening - and he is relying on Henderson, who has played every minute of the Blues' last three Premier League games, and the more experienced figures in the dressing room to help with that.

"Absolutely, I think it helps [having Henderson around for games like this]," said Alonso. "Absolutely. It helps for that experience and that composure that you need in certain moments.

"You have players that sometimes, even during the game, they take a step back to see, this is happening and now we need to keep focused and calm."

While he wants his players to keep their heads in the heat of the moment, Alonso has called on the home crowd at Stamford Bridge to make it a nasty place to come for Tottenham.

There have been moments in Alonso's time thus far where Chelsea's home has been loud but Saturday's London derby is set to be the most hostile atmosphere since the Spaniard's appointment - something the manager is relishing.

After admitting he knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of a raucous Stamford Bridge as a player, Alonso said: "Yes, we are expecting a good atmosphere, electric, with good energy, knowing that in a derby this passion is really in the air in the stadium.

"We need to use it in a proper way because this is all about those games where you feel that excitement, it's something you need, that extra motivation.

"That will come naturally because of the history of the derby and this is a top game."

Alonso, though, will be without No.1 goalkeeper Martinez after he underwent surgery on a fractured jaw last weekend. Pep Chavarria, Reece James and Jamie Gittens are all ruled out through injuries, while Emmanuel Emegha faces a late fitness test. Malo Gusto has recovered from his illness.