BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has predicted more misery for Tottenham as they prepare for their Premier League clash with London rivals Chelsea on Saturday evening.

The last time Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea met in the Premier League was at the back end of last season, when the Blues claimed a 2‑1 victory.

Goals from Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos put Chelsea in control before Richarlison pulled one back for Spurs.

Much has changed since that meeting in May, with all three scorers absent this weekend. Fernandez now plays for Manchester City, Santos is at Manchester United, while Richarlison has been frozen out at Tottenham and is not registered in the Premier League squad.

Chelsea head into this clash sitting in the top four, while Spurs are down in 16th, having only just secured their first win of the season against Coventry City last time out.

Tottenham’s record at Chelsea is far from ideal

The match is finely poised, and with the derby factor at play, both sides will be desperate for victory.

Roberto De Zerbi has a respectable record against Chelsea, winning two of his six encounters with the Blues. Xabi Alonso, meanwhile, has never faced Spurs in his managerial career but is relishing Saturday’s meeting.

Ahead of the clash, pundit Chris Sutton gave his prediction in his BBC column, making it clear he does not see Spurs coming away with a win.

He said: “We were talking on the Monday Night Club about what Chelsea could do this season without any European football.

“Tottenham are not in Europe either, of course, but they do not look like they are going to be challenging at the top of the table the way Xabi Alonso’s side are.

“People keep saying how Chelsea’s attack is so good, but their 2-0 win over Everton last time out was their first clean sheet of the campaign in the league, and that side of things still needs to improve.

“Spurs, meanwhile, do seem to be getting better, albeit slowly.

“It was a big result for them to beat Coventry on Monday but they have an awful record at Stamford Bridge, with only one win there in the Premier League era. I do not see them getting anything this time, either.”

Spurs must defy history at Stamford Bridge

Spurs’ record against Chelsea makes it difficult to see how they can secure a victory. The Lilywhites have failed to take a single point from their last six Premier League meetings with the Blues.

At Stamford Bridge, the record is even worse, with Tottenham winning just once in 34 attempts – that solitary victory coming back in 2018.

However, Spurs did beat Chelsea 2-1 in pre-season in Australia, despite playing much of the second half with ten men after Kevin Danso was sent off.

Roberto De Zerbi will hope his side can replicate that result in competitive action – this time without any dismissals.