The outcome of every Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United is almost always exciting.
The Saturday matchup between the two London rivals will mark the most recent in a succession of ferocious clashes between the two teams. The matchup between Declan Rice and Enzo Fernandez in the middle of the field is one of several talking points heading into the encounter at the London Stadium.
Two of the top players in the world of football right now in very opposite positions. Although Rice and Fernandez play identical positions on the field, Rice is much more defensively-focused than Fernandez, whose outstanding defense from the front costs £106 million.
Rice is playing in the Premier League this year
It's a similar story in the midfield third. Rice has won the ball back 25 times in comparison to Fernandez's 22. However, in the attacking third, it's a much different story.
Fernandez, while at Benfica, won the ball back for his team six times in the attacking third, but Rice has just one to his name. This shows how far up the pitch Fernandez presses in comparison to Rice. It of course also demonstrates the difference in styles between Benfica and West Ham.
As well as this – in their respective domestic leagues – Fernandez dominates when it comes to touches in attacking areas. The new Chelsea midfielder had 375 touches in the attacking third for Benfica, while Rice has only had the ball 249 times for West Ham this term.
So it comes as no surprise that Fernandez has produced six assists this season with Rice recording just one. Both, however, have scored the same amount of goals (one each).
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