Today is Eden Hazard’s day.
Picked as a false 9 by Maurizio Sarri, he’s just got a goal and assist to put Chelsea in a ridiculously comfortable lead at half time.
That has meant he’s now the holder of a really quite special stat, considering it’s one which Messi or the Manchester City horde of attacking midfielders dominate.
Just check these out:
17 – Eden Hazard has been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season (17 in 16 apps) than he was in the whole of last season (16 in 34 apps). Evolved. pic.twitter.com/RsYVl9zuuR
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 16, 2018
9 – Eden Hazard has provided more assists in league competition than any other player in the Top 5 European Leagues in 2018-19. Wizardry. pic.twitter.com/kVaa703Xit
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 16, 2018
He ended his long run without a goal today, but adding that assist on the opening goal for Pedro was actually what gave him the lead in this category.
Even in the last couple of months, with our form fading and Eden not looking so good, he was still picking up assists, and his numbers are now up there with the very best in the game.
If he’s still top of this chart come May, there’s no doubt we’ll be back in the Champions League – and maybe doing even better than that.
