Chelsea will be looking to continue their imperious home record against Tottenham. Since 1990, Spurs have visited Stamford Bridge 41 times and won only once, this coming on April Fool's Day 2018; Christian Eriksen scoring a screamer, before Dele Alli netted twice.

Given that Xabi Alonso's side are fourth, while Roberto De Zerbi's team only claimed their first win of the season on Monday night, most are forecasting another home win. However, could ProRef's choice of referee be bad news for the home side?

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur: Refereeing team

Referee: Chris Kavanagh.

Assistant referees: Dan Cook and Ian Hussin.

Fourth official: Farai Hallam.

Video assistant referee: John Brooks.

Assistant video assistant referee: Richard West.

Chris Kavanagh will be the man in the middle at Stamford Bridge come Saturday evening. The 41 year old has been a Premier League referee since 2017, added to UEFA's elite list last December.

In eight matches this season, he has brandished 38 yellow cards and a remarkable four reds, dismissing Aleksandr Shirobokov of Kairat, former Chelsea defender Axel Disasi, Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch and then Ryan Sessegnon last weekend. Since the start of last season, Kavanagh averages just over four cards per game.

However, it is Chelsea's miserable record with the 41 year old in charge that is the concern.

Chris Kavanagh's previous Chelsea matches as referee (23/24 - present)

6 September 2026: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea - 6 yellow cards; Lacroix, Pedro, Palmer and Rogers booked.

24 May 2026: Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea - 9 yellows and 1 red; Pedro, Palmer and Fernández booked plus Fofana sent off.

12 April 2026: Chelsea 0-3 Man City - 4 yellow cards; Essugo, Estêvão and Cucurella booked.

10 January 2026: Charlton 1-5 Chelsea - 2 yellow cards; Benoît Badiashile booked.

18 October 2025: Nottingham Forest 0-3 Chelsea - 5 yellows and 1 red; Sánchez and Estêvão booked plus James sent off.

16 May 2025: Chelsea 1-0 Man United - 7 yellow cards; Palmer booked.

26 April 2025: Chelsea 1-0 Everton - No cards shown.

16 March 2025: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea - 6 yellow cards; Fofana, Colwill and Neto booked.

14 February 2025: Brighton 3-0 Chelsea - 3 yellow cards; Fernández and Caicedo booked.

22 December 2024: Everton 0-0 Chelsea - 5 yellow cards; Disasi booked.

30 October 2024: Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea - 6 yellow cards; Badiashile and João Félix booked.

6 October 2024: Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest - 9 yellows and 1 red; Fofana, Colwill, Neto, Cucurella, Caicedo and Palmer booked.

25 February 2024: Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool - 7 yellow cards; Chilwell and Palmer booked.

6 December 2023: Man United 2-1 Chelsea - 4 yellow cards; No Chelsea players booked.

21 October 2023: Chelsea 2-2 Arsenal - 6 yellow cards; Thiago Silva, Palmer and Cucurella booked.

Oddly, Chelsea have lost each of their last three matches with Kavanagh as the referee. Across his last 15 Chelsea matches, the Blues have enjoyed just four wins, one of which was against Charlton, but have endured eight defeats. The most consequential of these loses was the 2024 EFL Cup Final, in which Mauricio Pochettino's team were beaten 1-0 in extra time by Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool.

Kavanagh also sent off both Reece James and Wesley Fofana last season, with Levi Colwill, Estêvão, Cole Palmer and João Pedro among the current squad members he has booked on multiple occasions. This could be concerning, but let's just hope the referee is not the talking point after full time.