In anticipation of this weekend's most hotly anticipated clash, this piece will seek to shed light on how some of the key individuals from each team have performed thus far this season. The structure of the article pits key men from each department - attack, midfield, defence, and goalkeeping - together in a head to head statistical comparison to see who comes out on top.

Eden Hazard v Romelu Lukaku

Eden Hazard has by common consent started the season on fire and is sitting pretty at the top of the goal-scoring charts having netted 7 goals already this season. Lukaku, may not have scaled the same heights, but his return of 4 goals to date is respectable, particularly in light of how Utd have struggled over the opening games. The x goals statistic suggests that, rated against a probability curve, Hazard's goal tally should stand at 3.79. Consequently, we can deduce that Hazard is scoring at a rate of almost twice that of probability from the chances he has been presented with. Lukaku, on the other hand, is scoring at roughly the expected level, his 3.91 x goals, falling only marginally short of his actual total. The fact that their respective x goals per 90 minutes, 0.59 v 0.54, are remarkably similar indicates just how clinical Hazard has been thus far.

It's unsurprising that Hazard also has the edge over his fellow countryman in terms of minutes per goal, 83 v 164, and goals per match, 0.88 v 0.50. Indeed the overall shooting statistics favour the Chelsea wizard; so far this season he has mustered 23 shots to Lukaku's 18, with a shooting accuracy of 83.33% in comparison the Man Utd man's 69.23%, and a shooting success rate of 30.33% as to 22.22%. This overall differential is echoed in the fact that Lukaku has missed twice as many big chances, 4, as Hazard, who has only missed 2.

Hazard is dangerous with both feet, but favours his right with which he has notched 5 goals. Lukaku's principal source of goals this season has come through headers, of which he has scored 2. Both players have notched all their goals from inside the area.

In terms of teamplay, the stats are, if anything, even more skewed in Hazard's favour. While Lukaku has yet to record an assist this season, Hazard has 3 to his name. In terms of x-assists, Hazard is running at about par with 3.09, whereas Lukaku's figure of 0.83, suggests some profligacy among his teammates. Lukaku also cuts a much more isolated figure during games, his total number of passes, 149, is less than a third of Hazard's total of 465. Moreover, Hazard displays much greater attacking intent, he is essentially equally likely to pass forward, 91, as backward, 92, whereas Lukaku is much more likely to pass backward, 44, than forward, 26. The passing data suggests that Lukaku operates too far ahead of his teammates to offer much incision, whilst Hazard benefits from a game plan aligned to his attacking instincts. Indeed such a conclusion is supported by their total number of touches, Hazard's 642, is significantly more than Lukaku's 238.

Defensively, the interception stats, which favour Hazard, 4-1, indicate the contribution that he makes as part of Chelsea's pressing system. The defensive stats in which Lukaku outperforms Hazard, clearances, 3-1, and headed clearances 2-1, are reflective of Lukaku's usefulness when defending set pieces and probably of a strategic preference for parking the bus as opposed to pressing on the front foot.

Overall Chelsea have a clear advantage in this battle. Hazard's finishing this season has been statistically freaky, but he also more than contributes his fair share of assists. Of course he is benefiting from a style of play tailor made to suit his talents, whereas Lukaku enjoys the thankless task of leading the line more or less single-handedly.

N'Golo Kante v Paul Pogba

Pogba holds a marginal goal scoring advantage having scored 2 goals to Kante's solitary effort, although it should be remembered that both Pogba's goals have come from the penalty spot. Indeed, in terms of x goals, the statistics, which predict that Pogba should have netted 3.56 goals by this stage, suggest that he has been profligate in front of goal so far this season. The inverse is true for Kante, whose x goal total of 0.66, suggests a rate of goal scoring ahead of probability. Of course, these statistics also point to the fact that Pogba is much more adept at getting into goal scoring positions, which is hardly surprising as Kante grapples to come to terms with the liberal remit of a more advanced role under Sarri.

Kante's lack of a true attacking instinct is also betrayed by the fact that he is yet to contribute an assist this season. His low x assistant total of 0.54 illustrates that it's his limited creativity as opposed to the profligacy of his teammates that underpins this statistic. Pogba is more creative having contributed 2 assists so far, but an x assist figure of 1.12 hints that his output has been inflated by the clinical finishing of others around him.

In terms of passing Pogba has made 554 to Kante's 466, though at a marginally lower success rate of 83.75% compared to 87.77%. Pogba's greater creativity is again underlined through his inclination to move the ball forward, 167 passes, as opposed to backward, 72 passes. Though at times he may be guilty of over elaborating, Pogba has been dispossessed nearly twice as often as his fellow countryman, 23-12. Kante is more conservative in possession and is equally likely to pass forward, 105 passes, as backward, 100 passes. However, the figures may also allude to the greater intricacy of Chelsea's play in comparison to the more direct approach employed by Mourinho's side.

On the defensive side of things the stats again suggest differences in underlying strategies. Kante is superior in measures relating to proactive defending, he has made 6 interceptions already while Pogba has yet to get off the mark, and the Chelsea dynamo has also made more tackles, 14-8, than his Utd counterpart. However, when we analyse reactive defensive performance, roles are reversed, Pogba makes nearly double the amount of clearances as Kante, 15-8. Of course, Chelsea have spent the majority of their season resoundingly on the front foot, so this last statistic is as indicative of Utd's patchy form as any differential in performance levels.

Overall Pogba is the more mercurial performer, equally as capable of extravagant feats as brain fades, while Kante is like a level headed accountant who has been possessed by the Duracell bunny. Given the high profile nature of the game and the likelihood that each manager will seek to employ very specific gameplans, the predictable level of performance guaranteed by Kante just edges it his way.

Marcos Alonso v Luke Shaw

Both players have notched one goal so far this season so who presents the more potent threat is open to debate. The x goal statistics for Shaw, 0.30, and Alonso, 1.64, favour the the Spaniard, but these are somewhat contradicted by the fact that Shaw has had more shots on target, 4-2, and enjoys a far superior shooting accuracy of 66.67% compared to 18.18%. Overall, the fact that Alonso has missed 2 big chances to Shaw's none, hit the woodwork on 2 occasions to Shaw's none, and won 2 penalties, to, you've guessed it, Shaw's none, probably sways it in the Chelsea man's favour.

In terms of assists the Chelsea man leads by 2 to 1, a scale of advantage replicated by the x assist stats of 1 to 0.45. The x stats being indicative of the fact that both players' stats have benefited from the clinical finishing of others.

In terms of passing there is little to choose between the two, particularly when you consider that Alonso has played 90 minutes more than his opposite number. Alonso has made 523 passes to Shaw's 428 and done so at a broadly similar success rate of 86.23% compared to 84.11%. Again, in terms of the attacking intent of their passing both players are similar, with Alonso's total of 168 only slightly ahead of Shaw's 149, though it should be added that Shaw is less likely to pass backward than Alonso, 58 - 95. Crossing stats, indicate an almost identical propensity to provide dynamism from wide areas, with Alonso just ahead, 27 -26.

Analysing their respective defensive attributes, in terms of blocks, interceptions, and tackles, the two players are largely level pegging in terms of statistical performance. However, the Chelsea man is noticeably more accomplished with respect to making clearances, 35 - 20, and headed clearances, 15 - 8.

Overall, the Spaniard edges this one. He offers more of a goal threat than Shaw, and his height advantage can make a crucial difference in defensive situations.

Kepa Arrizabalaga v David De Gea

So far this season De Gea, has made more saves than Arrizabalaga, 25 - 18, but done so at a markedly lower success rate, 64.10% compared to 78.26%. Utd's number 1 has conceded 14 goals to his counterpart's 5. Meanwhile, Utd's x goals against figure of 10.98 suggests that some of the goals conceded by Mourinho's men were preventable. The same stat, as applied to Chelsea, derives a figure of 8.59, which indicates that they are conceding at a slower rate than would be expected. In terms of shot stopping it would appear that the Spanish understudy has the edge thus far this season.

It's a similar story with respect to distribution. Arrizabalaga has made more passes, 238 - 197, and done so at a higher success rate, 81.09% compared to 55.33%. While some of the difference is attributable to Mourinho's clear preference for safety first, here again it's the apprentice that emerges ahead.

Based solely on this season's form, Arrizabalaga comes out ahead of his rival for Spain's Number 1 jersey.

Conclusion

It's hardly surprising that the performance indicators suggest that Chelsea enjoy advantages all over the field. Their good form over the opening quarter of the season contrasts sharply with the well documented struggles at Old Trafford and is reflected in the statistical advantages their players enjoy over their opponents of this weekend. The stats also illustrate the greater continuity in Chelsea's play when compared with Utd's fractured and disjointed style. Whereas Chelsea's continuity serves as a platform from which to capitalise upon individualism, Utd's system is reduced to individualism alone. The space between these two philosophies is ultimately the distance between winning and losing and is why Chelsea should prevail.