Chelsea vs Everton – Statistical Preview

After a disappointing draw away to West Brom in the league and defeat in The FA cup to Manchester City, Chelsea will be looking forward to putting their title hopes back on track when they host Everton.

Despite the poor result, The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows Chelsea dominated possession with Oscar and Hazard completing 36 and 35 passes in the opposition half respectively.

Eden Hazard will be hoping to add to his impressive recent form, which has allowed him to become the 4th top scorer in the Premier League with 12 goals and a shot accuracy of 63.2%. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows Hazard made 40 attacking contributions, which is more than any other Chelsea player. He has dribbled 88 times this seasons, the highest in the league; highlighting his importance to Mourinho in the title race. 

Focusing on Hazards recent excellent form however does not do justice to the   impressive season Bratislav Ivanović is having. In addition to appearing on the score sheet, The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows he won an inspiring 100% of tackles against West Bromwich Albion adding to his already impressive season tackle win percentage 80.4%

Everton will be looking to continue their winning ways after convincingly beating Swansea 3 – 1 in The FA cup. Taking the lead after just 4 minutes with a stylish backheel from debutant Lacina Traore, Everton overpowered a determined Swansea team with Naismith and Baines also scoring.

As Everton are still without top scorer Romelu Lukaku, Toffee fans will be hoping for a repeat performance from on-loan Monaco striker Lacina Traore whilst Naismith, who made an impressive impact from the bench before suffering from concussion, has been declared fit and will give fans further reason to be confident.  According to The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, Naismith is Everton’s 2^nd most accurate striker with 66.7% accuracy rate. 

The 19-year-old Spanish Youth team prodigy Gerard Deulofeu, on loan from Barcelona, represents Everton’s greatest attacking threat. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Deulofeu has had 16 shots on target so far this season of which 13 have been on target giving him a season shot accuracy rating of 81.3%; the highest in the club.

Leighton Baines will prove integral to Everton’s chances of victory at Stamford Bridge. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows that Baines has a current season tackle win percentage of 86.2%. Baines will also offers an impressive attacking threat; having made 522 attacking contributions, (Crosses, dribbles, passes and shots on target), this season already from left back.