Saturday 10 March 2018 11:17, UK
Ahead of Manchester United v Liverpool on Sky Sports this Saturday, we look at the stats behind the key battle at Old Trafford.
The Premier League's top shot-stopper David de Gea comes face to face with the league's joint-top scorer Mohamed Salah in the 200th meeting between England's two most successful clubs, which is live on Sky Sports Premier League from 11.30am on Saturday.
De Gea has been in outstanding form this season, having conceded only 22 league goals. Based on Opta's xG data for shots on target faced, the average 'keeper would have been expected to concede 36 goals. This is the biggest differential by a Premier League goalkeeper this season.
It is not just this season that the Spaniard has excelled, having been named in the PFA Team of the Year in the last 3 seasons. And though he is yet to win the Golden Glove, he currently leads the way this year with 15 clean sheets.
The agile 27-year-old boasts the best save percentage in the league this season with a whopping 81% save ratio, conceding 22 goals from 116 shots on target faced. No 'keeper has finished a Premier League season with a higher save ratio since he joined United. The average save percentage for a top-tier side this season is 68%, with Simon Mignolet's ratio at 59% and Loris Karius' at 68%. Liverpool currently have the 4th lowest save percentage in the division.
De Gea has kept the most Premier League clean sheets (90) since his debut in August 2011. Only Peter Schmeichel (112) and Van Der Sar (91) have kept more for Man Utd.
Stats below underline how De Gea is having his best season at United.
De Gea has faced Liverpool 18 times in his career, more than against any other side, keeping six clean sheets. In his last four league games against the Reds he has a save ratio of 94%, conceding just once from 16 shots on target faced - James Milner's penalty in the 1-1 at Old Trafford last season.
United faced 19 shots in the goalless draw at Anfield last October, with De Gea making five saves, of which one was from Salah. This was the first time that these two players had faced each other.
Salah has been in scintillating form this season, and is currently the joint-top scorer this term with Harry Kane on 24. No player has been involved in more league goals this season than Salah.
He also has an impressive record against the top-six sides this season with seven goals and two assists in eight games - no player has scored more league goals in top-six head-to-head games this season.
The Egyptian has amassed 32 club goals in all competitions this season, scoring his 30th goal in the 5-0 win in Porto last month. In doing so he became the second-quickest Liverpool player ever to reach 30 Liverpool goals.
Appearances to reach 30 Liverpool goals
The 25-year-old left-footer becomes the first Liverpool player to score 32+ goals in a season since Fernando Torres' 33 in 2007-08. Salah has an incredible 26 goals in his last 27 appearances and has scored in each of his last seven starts (eight goals).
Should he score Saturday, the African Player of the Year would become the first Liverpool player to score 25 Premier League goals in his debut season. Fernando Torres scored 24 back in 2007-08.
Salah will also be chasing Luis Suarez's Liverpool record of the most Premier League goals scored in a season - 31 in 2013-14.
A fascinating tussle awaits between this world-class duo on Saturday.
