Stats shows why Lampard must replace top creative midfielder after ‘another massive’ injury
We’ve got a solid chunk of the season behind us now, and one can really start to put some weight behind the statistics of the campaign so far.
It’s always easy to keep track of who has scored the most goals (Timo Werner, if you weren’t paying attention), but looking into who are the team’s greatest creative influences is also interesting.
FBRef record the “expected assists” stat – that is to say, who has created the best chances, regardless of whether the goal was scored.
In that category there’s one leader way out in front – Hakim Ziyech with 3.
Behind him comes Timo Werner with 2.3 and Reece James with 2.2.
Then come the creative midfielders – Kai Havertz and Mason Mount, with Ben Chilwell making up the tail of the attacking players.
It’s interesting to see the full backs so high up the list, but most notable of all has to be Ziyech’s huge lead on the rest of the team, despite missing the first chunk of the season.
He’s injured again now for a few weeks, and it will be crucial that his creative influence is replaced in the team.