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Football London
Football London
Sport
Scott Trotter

Chelsea's key edge over Liverpool and Man City as Harry Kane fails to match Thomas Tuchel ace

Chelsea have been the Premier League's most efficient finishers this season ahead of the two teams challenging for the title in Liverpool and Manchester City. The Reds take second spot, while Manchester City are all the way down in seventh despite their 68 goals.

However, while the Blues top this table, they have recorded just 57 goals from 397 shots (14.36%) in comparison to Liverpool's 75 from 555 (13.51%) and City's 68 from 536 (12.69%). West Ham and Leicester are the only other two teams to have conversion rate above 13%, while Norwich record a conversion rate of just 6.34% according to the latest data.

Perhaps more surprisingly Romelu Lukaku (17.24%) outperforms both Hary Kane (12.77%) and Cristiano Ronaldo (13.79%), and it is Jorginho that leads the way in the league thanks to his six goals in just 14 shots (42.86%), possibly with just a fraction of help from his penalty taking duties.

READ MORE: Hakim Ziyech on Chelsea mentality, adapting to Tuchel tactics and his warning for Real Madrid

While there have been positive signs that Chelsea's attack has kick-started into action, the Blues are represented fairly well in individual player rankings. Jorginho tops the list ahead of Hwang Hee-Chan and Emile Smith Rowe, while Reece James makes the top ten due to his five goals from just 23 shots (21.74%). Mason Mount's six goals have come from 49 shots (16.33%), and Kai Havertz's efforts match that of loanee Armando Broja with six goals from 37 efforts (16.22%). Conor Gallagher, on loan at Crystal Palace has bagged eight goals from his 42 shots (19.05%).

The Blues' clinical edge has been on show in their late wins over Newcastle, when Jorginho's outstanding pass allowed Havertz to show every inch of his finishing ability, while Hakim Ziyech was the difference against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The statistics perhaps prove what Blues supporters have found in the ground, in that Chelsea have often struggled to create the right kind of chances. Lukaku's seven touches against the Eagles being the epitome of the issues the Belgian has had in blue.

Chelsea are still among the league's top shot takers however averaging 14.2 per game, behind Arsenal, 15.3, Manchester City, 18.5, and Liverpool, 19.1. It is the shots produced in the six-yard box where the Blues fall behind. For shots in that area the Blues rank just 11th averaging 1.0 per match. Almost half as many as Liverpool, 1.9, and Manchester City. 1.8. The two league-leaders stand comfortably ahead of West Ham in third who produce 1.5.

The Blues perform better in shots in the penalty area, 8.2, and rank join fourth in the league with Manchester United. They are still some way behind the Reds who produce 11.2, and City on 11.1.

With impressive individual talent it's perhaps why Thomas Tuchel's side have managed to be so successful in cup competitions. The Blues have made the final of every tournament they have entered during the German coach's tenure at the club so far, and remain in the FA Cup and Champions League this season.

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