Chelsea heads into this weekend’s highly anticipated clash against Liverpool looking to break a troubling two-game losing streak. The team has struggled recently, facing more dismissals than one might encounter at a bake sale. Robert Sánchez was sent off in the match against Manchester United on September 20, and Trevoh Chalobah followed suit with a red card at Brighton just a week later. Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, is eager for all eleven players to remain on the pitch this time around.
Match Officials
Anthony Taylor will be the referee for the match at Stamford Bridge on October 4, accompanied by Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn as assistant referees, while Farai Hallam serves as the fourth official. Overseeing VAR duties will be Craig Pawson and Adrian Holmes. Taylor has officiated five matches this season, with the following results:
- Liverpool vs. Bournemouth: 3 yellow cards
- Crystal Palace vs. Nottingham Forest: 6 yellow cards
- Sunderland vs. Brentford: 5 yellow cards
- Manchester derby: No cards issued
- Wolves vs. Leeds: 2 yellow cards
In total, Taylor has issued 16 yellow cards but has yet to show a red. Furthermore, a penalty has been awarded in roughly every other game, making these statistics particularly noteworthy for those considering bets on cards or spot-kicks.
Controversies and Chelsea’s Concerns
Although this will be Taylor’s first Chelsea fixture of the 2025-26 season, his name still raises eyebrows among Blues supporters. In the 2022-23 season, he failed to sanction a clear red-card offense when Cristian Romero tugged on Marc Cucurella’s hair late in the match at Stamford Bridge. VAR official Mike Dean later acknowledged that he should have recommended a review, allowing Harry Kane’s 96th-minute equalizer to stand. This incident even led to Chelsea fans launching a petition to keep Taylor away from their matches, but their efforts didn’t change anything.
What to Expect
For those betting on the match, a clear picture emerges: Chelsea must maintain their discipline to avoid falling behind again. Taylor’s average of over three yellow cards per match indicates that this could be an intense encounter, although the threat of a sending-off seems minimal. Additionally, given the likelihood of a penalty being awarded, wagering on spot-kicks might be a smart strategy.
As anticipation builds for this weekend’s clash, fans can only hope the match provides as much excitement as the last time Taylor officiated a Chelsea game—minus any hair-pulling incidents.