It's Liverpool's star forward that comes out on top as comparisons between two of the Premier League's top performers continue.
Mohamed Salah had an incredible maiden season for the club last year, scoring 44 goals in all competitions and winning the PFA Player of the Year award.
He endured a difficult spell at the start of this season as he looked to emulate the heights of last season. However, he has always looked like a threat in the Reds' attack and has now scored three goals in his last two games - taking his tally to seven in 14 appearances.
Whilst Chelsea's Eden Hazard scored a comparatively tame 17 goals in all competitions last season, he currently leads the Premier League top-scorers chart with seven goals in 10 league appearances.
Hazard, like Salah, is not a natural out-and-out forward and the players' similar wide positions has seen supporters fiercely compare the two at the start of this season.
LFC News: Mohamed Salah has three goals in his last two appearances for the Reds after a slow start / Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images
However, the stats behind the duo reveal that Salah is performing at a much higher level than the Chelsea forward - despite scoring less goals at this stage of the season.
Liverpool supporter Stephen Drennan, referred to as BabuYagu on Twitter, has outlined the key statistics between both stars and there's only one winner.
The thread, which is worth
a read in its entirety, outlines key details such as assists, big chances and non-big chances created whilst comparing the duo's shot-maps.
Salah 17/18
Assists = 10
Big chances created = 13Hazard 17/18
Assists = 4
Big chances created = 10 https://t.co/gcm7X9CIwb
Here is a shot map for all the chances the two are creating to help you better understand.
Nice try though. pic.twitter.com/ZrHPF0WtBA
For shits and giggles - here are big chances only for both too.
Hazard - misses the easier central chances, but gets them all on target albeit small sample size. 33% conv rate of big chances.
Salah - Scores a lot. Misses a lot. 23/37 on target (62%). 16/37 scored. 43% conv rate. pic.twitter.com/lWpGP5hGIZ
The stats suggest that not only does Salah create more chances, but he also scores and creates more goals closer to the goal than Hazard does, with fewer shots per goal.
What have we learned here?
1. Salah creates more chances.
2. More big chances too.
3. They are closer to goal.
4. They are more central.
5. More of them are scored.
6. He scores more tap-ins.
7. But he scores more small chances too.
8. And does so with fewer shots per goal.
He goes on to debunk Salah's ‘one-season wonder' myth by comparing the duo's last three seasons - and it's no surprise who comes out on top.
Salah Total
33 Big Chances and 27 AssistsHazard Total
14 Big Chances and 12 AssistsI'm going to go out on a limb here and say Salah looks a more creative player in EACH of the last three seasons never mind goalscoring where he is clearly superior.
Hazard has had an impressive start to the season that has led many to claim that he's the best player in the league.
However, the statistics clearly suggest that Hazard is still performing at a level below Salah and it's only a matter of time before the Egyptian starts setting the league on fire once again.
