Chelsea's split season is a concern for Maurizio Sarri
Chelsea face Manchester City live on Sky Sports on Sunday
Wednesday 6 February 2019 17:28, UK
We break down the statistics which show how Chelsea's season has gone downhill since November...
Chelsea head into their meeting with Manchester City on Super Sunday as the first team in over 18 years to lose a Premier League game by a four-goal margin - against Bournemouth - and win the next by a five-goal margin - against Huddersfield. The results typified a season of stark contrasts under head coach Maurizio Sarri
Chelsea started the Premier League campaign well, winning their opening five games for the first time since 2010-11, and were unbeaten in their opening 12 games, with eight wins and four draws, heading into the November international break.
Since then, however, their form has dipped. They have lost five of their last 13 games, with Sarri coming under increasing criticism for his team selections - particularly in away games. Going into the weekend they have dropped to fourth place in the Premier League table and are 12 points behind the leaders.
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The statistics for the two periods highlight the dramatic change in form. In their opening 12 games they scored 2.3 goals per game and conceded 0.7 goals per game, but in the last 13 games they have scored only 1.4 goals per game while conceding 1.2 goals per game.
A closer look at the stats shows they are having 4.5 shots per game fewer (1.1 shots on target per game fewer) than they did in the first 12 games of the season, while in defensive terms their opponents are averaging 0.8 shots per game more.
Possession has also dropped by nearly four per cent, with the team making 52 passes fewer per game since the November international break.
Another area of concern is in Chelsea's results against their top-six rivals. They were unbeaten in their first three games this season against those teams but they have lost two of the last three either side of a 2-0 home win against Manchester City on December 8. All of the eight points they have gained against these opponents this season have come at Stamford Bridge.
Interestingly, Chelsea have an almost identical record as they did at the same stage of last season under Antonio Conte, when they also won 15 of their opening 25 games, earning 50 points and sitting fourth in the table.
One player who has thrived under Sarri is Eden Hazard, who leads the side for Premier League goals (12), assists (10) and chances created (65). This is the first time in seven Premier League seasons at Chelsea Hazard has achieved double-figure returns for both goals and assists. His total of 22 goal involvements is just one short of his highest total, which came in 2014/15.
Sarri's Chelsea became the first team to beat Manchester City in the Premier League this season when they won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in December, and they will be looking to complete the double over them on Super Sunday.
