Statistical Betting Preview: Chelsea vs Liverpool

Chelsea are two points off the top of the Premier League after a 1-0 Boxing Day victory over Swansea, courtesy of an Eden Hazard goal.

Hazard’s goal was his 8^th of the season as he has troubled goalkeepers with fantastic accuracy in front of goal. Hazard has got 69.6% of his goals on target, and scoring a goal every 3.29 shots.

Hazard has also completed more dribbles than any other player in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index with 65. 

Ramires put in a typical tough tackling performance against Swansea, and has become the first player in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index to attempt more than 100 tackles this season. The Brazilian midfielder has won 60 of 102 tackles so far.

Chelsea’s strikers remain in the spotlight after Samuel Eto’o had two one on one chances saved against Swansea. Eto’o has just two goals in the Premier League so far and has hit 11 of 20 shots at goal on target, giving him a return of a goal every 10 shots. Meanwhile Torres also just has two goals and has taken 16 shots to get there, a return of a goal every 8 shots. In comparison, Premier League top scorer Luis Suarez takes just 3.8 shots for each of his goals. Eto’o is 19/4 with 888sport.com to score any time against Liverpool.

Liverpool went a goal up via Philippe Coutinho, but were unable to hold on against Manchester City and ended up losing 2-1. They now go to in form Chelsea in a run of fixtures that will test their credentials as potential Premier League champions.

Coutinho has just two Premier League goals this season, despite having 36 shots at goal. The Brazilian midfielder has got just 14 of those efforts on target, suggesting if he improves his accuracy he may see his goal tally improve. He is an industry best price of 41/10 with 888sport.com to score any time against Chelsea. 

With the strike partnership of Suarez and Sturridge taking most of the headlines this season, a key difference for Liverpool has been having midfielder Lucas Leiva available from the start. Leiva has won 64 tackles this season, the second highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

Martin Skrtel has also done under rated defensive work for Liverpool this season making 165 clearances so far, the third highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.