West Ham vs Stoke: How key men Payet and Allen compare

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West Ham host Stoke at the London Stadium on Saturday.

This weekend sees West Ham United take on Stoke City at the London Stadium.

Both sides struggled for their best for at the beginning of the campaign, at one point finding themselves in the bottom three.

Things have picked up for both in recent weeks, with West Ham moving themselves up to 17th and Stoke into 12th – the Potters having won their last three consecutive games.

Both sides are heavily reliant on the form of their attacking midfielders, with West Ham enjoying Dimitri Payet’s outings and Joe Allen starring for the Potters in the position.

So who has had the better start to the season so far? We decided to take a look at the stats to find out.

As it transpires it is the Hammers star, who came out on top in five of the eight areas analysed.

So far the Frenchman has posted more accurate passes per game, 35.8 compared to 30 and more successful final third passes per game, 15.3 compared to 10.5.

He has also registered significantly more key passes per game, 4.1 compared to 1.5, although the two are level when it comes to passing accuracy.

Stoke City’s Joe Allen celebrates scoring their first goal

Payet has also won more contests per game, 3.1 compared to 0.9, while also registering more shots per game, 3.5 compared to 1.4.

Allen has managed more shots on target per game, though, 0.8 compared to 0.75, while he also has the better goal tally, four compared to one.

Nonetheless, a win for Payet and West Ham will be hoping he comes out on top again this weekend as they seek to pull away from the relegation zone.

West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet