We’ve delved into all of the stats using the Squawka Comparison Matrix to pick out a combined Chelsea and Man United XI ahead of Saturday’s showdown at Stamford Bridge.
Check the stats and see our eventual combined XI below. The players we’ve chosen to compare are a combination of the teams’ most-used XIs so far at this early stage of the season and predicted lineups for the match itself.
GK: Mike Penders vs Senne Lammens
Penders has just stepped in for the absent Emiliano Martinez, with a short sample of two games played. Lammens, on the other hand, has played every single game in the league season so far.
While both are often exposed by their respective leaky defences, the young(er) Belgian edges his slightly older compatriot here, but not by much.
He is still adapting to life as number one goalkeeper and already looked more composed and secure between the sticks against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup than he did against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Winner: Mike Penders
RB: Josh Acheampong vs Noussair Mazraoui
Michael Carrick may turn to Mazraoui after having problems with Leny Yoro at right-back and Diogo Dalot usually playing on the left.
The Moroccan is a more complete and well-rounded full-back than Josh Acheampong, who is more of a centre-back anyway. He has played just four Premier League games so far, but makes his presence known both going forward and at the back as well.
Winner: Noussair Mazraoui
CB: Wesley Fofana vs Leny Yoro vs Levi Colwill vs Harry Maguire
The French fellas will take this one quite comfortably. Harry Maguire is still dominant in the air, but nothing else other than that, while Levi Colwill falls behind in every single department listed above.
Wesley Fofana did give away a penalty and failed to convert his in the shootout midweek against Liverpool, but is likely to step in again due to Maxence Lacroix‘s injury. And he is faring much better in the Premier League anyway.
The 25-year-old has shown combativeness out of possession, winning 60%+ of his duels both on the ground (64%) and in the air (69%). While also contributing a lot to build-ups, even creating 0.5 chances per 90 minutes this league season.
Leny Yoro has been far from dominant in the air, but makes up for it by leading the comparison with combative (tackles) and positional (interceptions and recoveries) skills.
Winners: Wesley Fofana and Leny Yoro
LB: Jorrel Hato vs Diogo Dalot
Diogo Dalot just edges Jorrel Hato much thanks to the well-rounded nature of his game.
The versatile Portuguese full-back can play on either flank and gets up and down the pitch quite easily. His advantage on metrics like chances created and crosses, but also clearances and recoveries perfectly encapsulates this – despite his defensive shortcomings.
That is precisely where the Dutchman excels, with the three categories in which he wins being tackles and ground duels.
Winner: Diogo Dalot
CM: Moises Caicedo vs Carlos Baleba vs Romeo Lavia vs Youri Tielemans
We had to pull out the ‘matches played’ tiebreaker for this one. The Belgian duo of Romeo Lavia and Youri Tielemans, who formed a double pivot against France last international break – ended up coming out on top.
It’s a complementary pairing as well, with the Chelsea man excelling in tackles and ground duels, while Man United’s new signing edges his peers with more build-up involvement, in chances created and forward passes.
Winners: Romeo Lavia and Youri Tielemans
RW: Pedro Neto vs Amad Diallo
Pedro Neto has, far and away, better stats than Amad Diallo this season. It doesn’t come as a surprise, since the Ivorian has just returned to the lineup after two months out injured.
He did have an impact as a substitute against Como and went on to start in the Bournemouth loss, meaning he will probably have another shot.
Meanwhile, Neto has played all eight of Chelsea’s Premier League games so far, pitching in with three goals and one assist.
Winner: Pedro Neto
AM: Jordan Henderson vs Bruno Fernandes
Jordan Henderson played a bit further forward against Liverpool, though it wasn’t exactly a ‘Number 10’ kind of role. Unsurprisingly, Bruno Fernandes takes this one quite comfortably.
What is surprising, however, is that Henderson edges Fernandes in both goals and assists. All of them have come in one single game, against Bournemouth – which is the same as Bruno, against Ipswich Town. Everywhere else, however, United’s No.8 comes out on top.
Winner: Bruno Fernandes
LW: Morgan Rogers vs Mason Mount
While Neto and Diallo are traditional wingers, Morgan Rogers and Mason Mount are more attacking midfielders who often play wide.
Mount, in particular, has spent time in other midfield roles, which inflate his per90 averages. But Rogers takes this one in the matches played tiebreaker, being Chelsea’s second top scorer in the league behind the absent Joao Pedro.
Winner: Morgan Rogers
ST: Cole Palmer vs Bryan Mbeumo
Neither Cole Palmer nor Bryan Mbeumo are out-and-out strikers, though they may lead the line for their sides in Saturday’s clash.
The Cameroonian has been more productive and efficient in front of goal, but Palmer edges him on every other department. He has excelled dropping deep to see the game in front of him and pick out teammates with his passes, while still getting touches near the goal.
Winner: Cole Palmer
