Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli and Tottenham Hotspur’s Roberto Soldado both have struggled so far this season, but who has found it more difficult?
Much was expected of both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the season, but things have not gone according to plan.
Heading into this weekend’s round of matches, the Reds find themselves seventh in the Premier League table with 14 points from nine games, while Spurs are three points behind them in 11th.
One of the key reasons for the disappointing results of the two top-four contenders is the struggle of their strikers.
Summer signing Mario Balotelli has yet to score in the Premier League for Liverpool, while Soldado’s struggles have continued.
But who has been worse: Balotelli or Soldado?
| Goals | Total Shots/Game | Shots on Target/Game | Big Chance Missed | Goal Assist | Key Passes | Total Pass | Accurate Pass | Appearances | Mins Played | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Balotelli | 0 | 4.57 | 1.43 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 134 | 96 | 7 | 516 |
| Roberto Soldado | 0 | 1 | 0.75 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 43 | 30 | 4 | 136 |
Perhaps it would not be fair to compare the two strikers as Soldado has played far fewer minutes than Balotelli, but the stats above do give an indication of the duo’s performances in the opening weeks of the season.
It is clear from the stats above that Balotelli is more confident of taking shots than Soldado, although he has also missed thrice as many big chances as the Spain international.
Interestingly, Soldado has a better key pass/match ratio than Balotelli, which certainly shows a creative side to his game that is perhaps often overlooked.
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