Leeds United have learned the identity of the referee who will take charge of their first game back in the Premier League against Everton.
A packed-out Elland Road will welcome Daniel Farke and his Leeds side back to the top flight on Monday night as they face Everton in the season’s curtain-raiser.
Now, the Premier League has confirmed that Chris Kavanagh will take charge of the first game of Leeds’ season as they look to get off to a strong start at home.
Whilst Leeds fans will be looking forward to seeing the likes of Lucas Perri, Jaka Bijol, and Anton Stach make their home debuts, they will be less enthusiastic about seeing Kavanagh in charge of the game.
Leeds struggled in games involving Kavanagh during their last stay in the Premier League, which they will be hoping to break in the 2025/26 season.
Referee Chris Kavanagh looks on during Chelsea FC v Manchester United FC in the Premier League
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Leeds United have a poor Premier League record under Chris Kavanagh
According to the data from Transfermarkt, although Leeds’ overall record under Kavanagh is not overly concerning, with eight wins, nine defeats and four draws in total, it severely declined in Leeds’ last spell in the top flight.
Between the game against Brighton in May 2021 and the crushing 4-1 defeat against Bournemouth in Javi Gracia’s last game in charge, Leeds lost seven games in a row with Kavanagh as referee, including six in the Premier League and one in the FA Cup.
Leeds United Record with Chris Kavanagh as Referee Total
Total Wins 8
Total Draws 4
Total Defeats 9
Premier League Wins 2
Premier League Draws 0
Premier League Defeats 7
More concerning, Leeds have never won a home game in the Premier League with Kavanagh as the referee.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
Their last home win with Kavanagh as referee came 10 years ago in 2015. Leeds secured a 2-1 win over Hull City during Steve Evans’ reign.
However, Kavanagh has sent off just two Leeds players during this time, showing a red card to Luke Ayling away at Arsenal in 2022 and Alex Mowatt against Preston in 2016.
Leeds United fans.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Controversy reigned in Kavanagh’s last Elland Road appearance
Leeds ended their long losing streak under Kavanagh with a 3-0 win away at Millwall at the start of the 2023/24 season, and they will hope to break their home duck against Everton.
Kavanagh’s last appearance was a controversial one, as Leeds slipped to a 1-0 home defeat against Arsenal in October 2022.
The game is best remembered for two controversial incidents involving Patrick Bamford. First, Kavanagh missed a handball in the box by William Saliba, which was eventually spotted by VAR, with Bamford missing the resulting penalty.
Then the departing Leeds man had a penalty controversially disallowed for a push on Gabriel, who was initially shown a red card for kicking out, as Leeds fell to a Bukayo Saka goal.