LIVERPOOL VS CHELSEA "Back line Comparison"
Simon Mignolet v Mark Schwarzer
Mignolet has come under criticism after failing to collect a cross against Norwich which ultimately led to Norwich's first, but it came after a steady string of performances. In recent weeks the Belgian has shown more desire to command his area, while his distribution has improved.
Though Schwarzer is a year older, he is lightly-raced this season having played just one league game for Chelsea. At Fulham last season, he kept eight clean sheets, conceded an average of 1.58 goals per game and made an average of 3.58 saves per game.
Mignolet: 7
Schwarzer: 7
Jon Flanagan v Cesar Azpilicueta
Azpilicueta benefits from years of experience in France having played nearly 170 league games more than Flanagan, and is arguably a more refined, all-round defender.
But despite that, the Liverpool lad matches up well with the Spaniard, and actually provides more key passes per game (0.6) than Azpilicueta (0.4), as well as more dribbles and a better passing accuracy, highlighting what Flanagan offers in an attacking sense.
Flanagan: 8
Azpilicueta: 9
Martin Skrtel v Gary Cahill
Skrtel is more aggressive on the front foot, always looking to gain an advantage and take the ball before the forward gets there. He averages more tackles (1.3 v 1.1), more interceptions (1.7 v 1) and more clearances (11.8 v 7.1) per game; this, sometimes, can be to the Slovakian's detriment, with averaging twice as many fouls as the Chelsea man.
Cahill always looks a threat in the air in attack but has been unfortunate, hitting the woodwork against Manchester City and being denied by brave blocks on other occasions; Skrtel, meanwhile, has been prolific in front of goal and is the highest-scoring defender in the league.
Skrtel: 9
Cahill: 8
Glen Johnson v Branislav Ivanovic
The contrast is stark in terms of dribbles, with Johnson averaging 1.4 per game, while Ivanovic manages just 0.6; interestingly, however, the Serbian takes more shots on average, and is just squeezed out in terms of key passes.
Defensively, Johnson proves more than Ivanovic's equal with more tackles and interceptions per game but the Chelsea defender's consistency is almost unrivalled in the league with few bad performances over the past six years.
Johnson: 8
Ivanovic: 7