Here’s how the West Ham and Tottenham star men compare ahead of the big game.
West Ham take on Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, hoping for a big win which will strengthen their chances of a European place, and derail their rivals’ title hopes.
A lot will be expected of key duo Dimitri Payet and Christian Eriksen, who are both capable of being match winners for their respective teams.
Payet has won plaudits for his superb debut season with the Hammers, but Eriksen has held his own in comparison to the Frenchman.
The West Ham ace has 12 goals and assists combined in the Premier League, while Eriksen has 13, although has played four more matches.
Both players are performing at a high standard, as a comparison with teammates Erik Lamela and Michail Antonio shows, who are half as productive in terms of goals, assists, and chances created, while the star duo are also more reliable in terms of their pass completion rate.
| Team | Key Passes per game | Passing Accuracy | Dribbles per game | Goals | Assists | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimitri Payet | West Ham | 3.5 | 82% | 2.55 | 7 | 5 | 20 |
| Christian Eriksen | Tottenham | 3.38 | 81% | 1.08 | 5 | 8 | 24 |
| Erik Lamela | Tottenham | 1.96 | 78% | 1.21 | 3 | 4 | 24 |
| Michail Antonio | West Ham | 0.67 | 64% | 1.53 | 4 | 2 | 15 |
Payet has been in excellent form in the FA Cup for West Ham, leading them to the quarter-finals with a brace against Blackburn last month, while Eriksen has been performing at a high standard in the Europa League.
The Dane showed his hard work at the weekend’s 2-1 win over Swansea by making more interceptions in a Premier League game than any other he has done in three seasons.
If Spurs are to prove pundit Paul Merson wrong, who told SkySports the best they can hope for at Upton Park is a draw, then they will need Eriksen to outshine home fans’ hero Payet.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
