Salah v Hazard: Liverpool and Chelsea players assessed on skill, finishing and team work

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FINISHING

Salah: "He has a great ability to create chances for himself. He gets in behind defences and is very good at working space to get a shot away. But he can improve his finishing — if anything he should have scored more than 15 this season. Also his confidence is high given his start and that always helps your ability to finish chances." 7.5 Hazard: "Like the Liverpool man, he can improve in this area. He’ll often score wonder goals, as he did against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in recent seasons but he needs to score more simple goals and get into the box more often." 7

SKILL Salah: "He’s not superb technically but he’s got very quick feet and is very good at bursting past the opposition. He will keep things simple, wait until the defender is static and just drop the shoulder and he’s away." 7 Hazard: "Exceptional — he’s so gifted. I think Hazard is the best in Europe at getting the ball in tight areas and then spinning away into space. On his day his skill levels and dribbling can match Lionel Messi." 9

TEAM PLAY

Salah: "His work rate is exceptional. His fitness levels must be remarkable; he covers all areas of the pitch. That’s why he played on Saturday and Sadio Mané didn’t despite both playing in the Champions League in the week. He’s very useful man to have as a team-mate — he’s always an option to receive the ball and often drops into midfield to link up play and start attacks." 9

Hazard: "He is 5ft 8in but he has great upper-body strength and is so good at holding people off — he very rarely loses the ball. In terms of his link-up play he’s excellent — sometimes too good. He’s always looking to play quick one-touch football and sometimes his team-mates aren’t on the same wavelength. What would be a great through-ball ends up looking like a wasted pass." 8.5

OVERALL

Salah: "He can play almost anywhere and is perfect for Liverpool’s constantly mobile team. He was good at Roma and, at only 25, he can play at the top for a good while yet. I just think he will have to adapt his game as he gets older given his work rate." 8.5 Hazard: "A fit and firing Eden Hazard is up there with the best ten players in the world. Sometimes I question his attitude but he seems up for it now and is revelling in his role as Chelsea’s main man." 9.5