Alexis or Coutinho – who makes your fantasy team?

Arsenal vs Liverpool at the Emirates this Sunday is the standout fixture in the Premier League’s opening weekend. Both clubs are suffering with defensive losses so it’s likely both managers will practically abandon defence and place the emphasis on attack.

Alexis Sánchez and Philippe Coutinho are two attacking players that will be highly popular with fantasy football managers this season and the focus of this weekend’s clash. The stats team at Oulala have broken down both player’s numbers from last season into this handy graphic.

Of the eight key areas analysed, Sánchez comfortably came out on top in six. The Chilean led Coutinho for pass completion (80 to 79 per cent) and was far more clinical in the final third, netting five more goals (13 to 8), while also bettering the Brazilian for shot accuracy (54 to 44 per cent) and conversion rate (12 to 7 per cent). Sánchez was also the more creative of the pair, laying up 62 chances for teammates, in comparison to Coutinho’s 49. Although the Liverpool star registered an assist more (5 to 4) than the 27-year-old.

Overall, Sánchez averaged a goal or an assist every 143 minutes, compared to 154 minutes for Coutinho.

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