It’s that time of year, folks. Book that week off work, tell your loved ones you’re busy and spend some quality alone time getting accustomed to FIFA 18.
As with every new release of the game, EA Sports has introduced a number of new features including an overhaul of in-game tactics and the introduction of ICONS on the ever-popular FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT).
Defending In Numbers is a new Deezer Originals football podcast, created by Squawka. Listen to the latest episode and subscribe to the podcast on Deezer and iTunes.
After getting our mitts on a copy this week, Squawka has had a go playing with some of the Premier League’s finest players in exhibition, career and Ultimate Team modes and we’ve noticed certain players have slightly unfair stats…
Complaining about rating stats seems to be in vogue at the moment with Benjamin Mendy, Dele Alli and Michy Batshuayi all having a little moan about some of their statistics on FIFA 18.
But are they right to question their ratings? Squawka has analysed which players deserve better ratings based around our database of statistics.
Alvaro Morata (Chelsea)
FIFA 18 Heading Accuracy rating: 79
Lower than 62 Premier League players.
Wrong because?
Only Willian Jose (7) scored more headed goals in La Liga last season than Alvaro Morata (6) for Real Madrid. Furthermore, Morata has scored three headers and provided two headed assists for Chelsea in only six Premier League games.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
FIFA 18 Finishing rating: 79
Lower than 36 players.
Wrong because?
Mohamed Salah scored 15 goals from 31 Serie A appearances for AS Roma last season at a conversion rate of 23.4%. Since joining Liverpool in the summer, he has managed four goals from six Premier League matches.
Pascal Gross (Brighton)
FIFA 18 Vision rating: 76
Lower than 65 Premier League players.
Wrong because?
No player created more chances in the Bundesliga last season than Pascal Gross (98) for relegated Ingolstadt. Since joining Brighton, he has created 12 chances with two of those resulting in assists.
Anthony Martial
FIFA 18 Finishing rating: 81
Lower than 27 players.
Wrong because?
This season, Anthony Martial has scored three Premier League goals despite playing for just 127 minutes. He has the best goals per-90 rate (2.13) in the entire division.
Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City)
FIFA 18 Long Shot rating: 81
Lower than 15 players.
Wrong because?
Since the start of the 2016-17 season, only Philippe Coutinho (7) and Harry Kane (6) have scored Premier League goals from outside the penalty area than Xherdan Shaqiri (5).
Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham)
FIFA 18 Long Passing rating: 81
Lower than 16 players.
Wrong because?
Since joining Spurs in 2015, Toby Alderweireld has completed the highest number of long balls (471) in the Premier League – 54 more than any other player in that time.
FIFA 18 Standing Tackle rating: 80
Lower than 67 players.
Wrong because?
Erik Pieters has won more tackles (237) since the start of the 2014-15 Premier League season than any other player in the division. Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta is second with 230.
Tom Heaton (Burnley)
FIFA 18 Reflexes rating: 83
Lower than 14 players.
Wrong because?
Since the start of last season, only Jordan Pickford (161) has made more saves in the Premier League than Tom Heaton (150).
Nacho Monreal (Arsenal)
FIFA 18 Interception rating: 83
Lower than 23 players.
Wrong because?
