Defenders Kalidou Koulibaly and Joachim Andersen could feature on opposite sides when Chelsea host Crystal Palace in a London derby at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. Ahead of that game we compare to two centre-backs’ seasons so far statistically.
Kalidou Koulibaly is in his first season with Chelsea, having moved to SW6 from Napoli in the summer, following eight years with the Italian club, and has featured regularly in our defence, either in a back four or on the left side of a defensive three.
Danish international Joachim Andersen joined Crystal Palace at the start of last season, although he had also spent the previous year in the Premier League, on loan with Fulham, and has become one of the first names on the team sheet at Selhurst Park under Patrick Vieira.
Line of defence
Although both centre-backs, the statistics show the different approaches to defending taken by both the players and their teams.
The pro-active way Koulibaly and Chelsea go about winning possession back is shown by the fact the Senegal captain has made more tackles (16 to 10) and more interceptions (18 to 16) than his Palace contemporary. Koulibaly’s success rate in tackles is also higher, winning the ball with 64 per cent of his challenges, compared to 45.5 per cent for Andersen.
However, the deeper defence employed by Crystal Palace, and the fact they tend to spend more time without the ball and are more willing to go long, means Andersen is ahead considerably when it comes to blocks (nine to three) and clearances (112 to 38).
Distribution
Perhaps due to playing an additional 300 minutes of Premier League football this season than Koulibaly, Andersen is slightly ahead when it comes to the total number of successful passes played (812 to 805), but viewed as a percentage it is Koulibaly who edges it with 86.1 per cent compared to 80.2 per cent.
That gap rises to 79.2 per cent to 61.4 per cent when reduced to passes in the opposition’s half, and Koulibaly has created five chances for team-mates compared to Andersen’s four, showing it is the Chelsea man most willing to step out of defence and contribute in attack.
Goals
Although primarily in their sides for their defensive work, both centre-backs have made an impression on the scoresheet in the Premier League this season.
Koulibaly edges it, having scored twice compared to one goal for Andersen, but the Dane has one more effort on target (five to four) and their shot accuracy percentage is identical at 50 per cent.