With a number of high-profile names to be found on team sheets throughout the English top-flight, 2016-17 is promising audiences weekly showdowns of football’s great talents.
To celebrate the launch of the new Premier League campaign, the gang at oulala.com have taken a look at the stats behind three key player head-to-head battles – finishing with two creative forces in the forms of Eden Hazard and Dimitri Payet – to see who has the better chance of influencing West Ham’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday morning.
Few players stole the headlines like Payet did in 2015-16. As the Hammers quickly adapted to the guidance of new manager Slaven Bilic, the Frenchman sparked attacking moves with ease and was an absolute terror from set-pieces. It took him just over two hours to impact a scoreline – finishing the season with nine goals and 12 assists.
Conversely, Hazard may have been the best illustration of a Chelsea side that experienced their most miserable campaign in decades. The Belgian had to wait until the final weeks of the season to register four league goals, while also providing just three assists – coming at an average rate of over five hours apart. Hazard’s 66 created chances for his team to score is dwarfed by Payet’s total of 116 – although the Blues playmaker was more accurate on the ball.
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