Liverpool’s trip to Stamford Bridge has been billed as a defining moment in Jose Mourinho’s second stint as Chelsea manager. Depending on what newspaper you gravitate towards, there has to be a dramatic improvement in performances for Mourinho to save his job. By all accounts, Liverpool’s season hasn’t fared much better. The charismatic Jurgen Klopp has now been tasked with reinvigorating the Reds and he will come up against Mourinho for just the fifth time as he seeks his first win in the league. But who dominates the combined XI using WhoScored ratings?
Unsurprisingly, Liverpool players make up three of the back four. Only three teams have shipped more goals than Chelsea this season (19). In fact, they’ve already conceded more than half the goals they let in during the whole of last season (32) after just 10 matches. Contrastingly, only a handful of sides have conceded fewer goals than Liverpool (11) thus far.
Lucas had been strongly linked with a move away from Anfield over the summer but the Brazilian midfielder has arguably been one of the Reds’ best players this season and currently has made more tackles than any other player in the league (47).
Eden Hazard’s troubles have been well documented this season, but only Riyad Mahrez (36) has completed more dribbles than the Chelsea No.10 (31) thus far. His Chelsea teammates Pedro and Cesc Fabregas complete the frontline three in behind Liverpool striker Christian Benteke, who was a player Mourinho wanted to bring to Stamford Bridge in the off-season.
Despite only playing seven of the 10 league matches thus far, only two players have won more aerial duels than Benteke (56) this season.
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