Nineteen games down, 19 to go. The Premier League has reached the half-way point and, as always, we've been royally entertained with sensational goals, thrilling games and magical pieces of skill.

But who have been the best and the worst performers in the world's most popular league? With a little help from our friends over at Opta, we've compiled the ultimate half-term report with all the stats you could ever need.

GOALS AND SCORERS

Football fans everywhere received a lovely Christmas present this year - a competitive Premier League title race.

While at one point it looked as though champagne corks would be popping in Chelsea by March, Manchester City have plugged away and reeled them in to just three points entering 2015.

The two teams have match each other goal-for-goal during the first half of the campaign, both finding the net 41 times, considerably ahead of Arsenal (34) and Manchester United (33).

The sight of Manchester City celebrating a goal has become a familiar one this season - they've scored 41

Chelsea have also hit the target 41 times during the opening half of the Premier League season

Goals scored and conceded in the first half of the Premier League this season. Stats courtesy of Opta

But for Aston Villa fans, goals have been a precious commodity. They have only had 11 to cheer in the first 19 games, less than the current bottom three of Leicester (17), Burnley (14) and Crystal Palace (20).

It's testament to their fantastic ability to whizz the ball around and work scoring opportunities that 39 of Chelsea's 41 goals have come inside the box.

But fans love to see long-range screamers and the best exponents of those have been Manchester United, West Ham and Everton, each scoring seven from outside the box.

Chelsea's Eden Hazard scores from inside the penalty box at Southampton on Sunday

Angel di Maria celebrates the free-kick he curled home against Queens Park Rangers in September

Not only have Chelsea been clinical going forward, they're incredibly watertight in defence as well. Just 14 goals have been conceded by the league leaders so far, the fewest in the division.

Southampton, who have been the surprise package of the season, have shipped just 15, Manchester City 17 and Manchester United, for all their well-documented defensive troubles, have conceded 19.

Table of goals scored inside and outside the penalty box during the first half of the season. Courtesy of Opta

Queens Park Rangers may have lifted themselves out of the danger zone with a recent upturn in results, but they still have the league's leakiest defence (34).

Everton are the second-most fragile, letting in 31 so far, the same as basement side Leicester.

The worst culprits for own goals have been Sunderland and QPR, who have put through their own net four times. Manchester City have let in three, which hasn't helped their title chances.

The Queens Park Rangers back line has been the leakiest this season, with 34 goals let in

One of the hallmarks of champions is coming from behind and, unsurprisingly, Chelsea lead the way having won 10 points from losing positions in their 19 games.

Newcastle have also salvaged 10 points, which Man City, Tottenham and West Ham have gained nine after falling behind. By contrast, Swansea have thrown away 16 points from leading positions.

Points lost from losing positions and points won from losing positions in Premier League. Courtesy of Opta

In terms of the best-performing players, City's Sergio Aguero tops the goalscoring charts with 14 and has, at times, single-handedly sustained their title challenge.

Diego Costa, who has scored 13 goals, has adapted seamlessly to the demands of playing in England and been worth every penny of his £32m transfer fee.

And, to the surprise of many, QPR's Charlie Austin is third with 12 as he battles to keep his team in the Premier League.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero tops the Premier League goalscoring charts with 14

Charlie Austin has scored 12 times to lift Queens Park Rangers out of the relegation zone

PREMIER LEAGUE TOP SCORERS 14 - Sergio Aguero 13 - Diego Costa 12 - Charlie Austin 10 - Alexis Sanchez 9 - Papiss Cisse 8 - Wilfried Bony, Graziano Pelle, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie 7 - Saido Berahino, Christian Eriksen, Eden Hazard, Diafra Sakho, Leonardo Ulloa 6 - Nacer Chadli, Romelu Lukaku, David Silva, Yaya Toure Advertisement

THE CALENDAR YEAR

If we take a look at all the matches played in the calendar year of 2014, the table produced a brilliant tie between Manchester City and Chelsea.

Both have picked up 88 points this year and only one goal separates them in the cumulative tables. Liverpool come third with 76 points, Arsenal fourth with 70 and Manchester United joint-fifth with Tottenham on 66.

Of the teams that have spent all 12 months in the Premier League, Hull have performed the worst. Their fans have seen them collect a mere 30 points from 38 matches in 2014.

Manchester City lift the Premier League trophy in May and were the best-performing team in 2014

This table shows the home and away records of each Premier League club in the calendar year of 2014

SHOTS ON GOAL

It comes as little surprise to see Man City and Chelsea top of the season's shots on target chart.

They are well-oiled chance creating machines and the London side have fired in 114 shots that have hit the target in 19 matches to date. Their shooting accuracy stands at a league-high 50.4 per cent, while they convert 18.1 per cent of their shots.

City have rattled the woodwork on more occasions than any other side (11) and they aren't far behind Chelsea in converting their shots into goals (18 per cent).

Chelsea have had the most shots on target this season - including this one by Willian at Southampton

Premier League shots on target and shooting accuracy tables for the season so far. Courtesy of Opta

Graziano Pelle has impressed since arriving at Southampton in the summer and he leads the player shots chart with 59 attempts, three more than Aguero.

The Argentine is more accurate though, with 34 of his efforts hitting the target.

Wilfried Bony of Swansea has attempted 48 shots and United's Robin van Persie 43. Charlie Austin and Yaya Toure have fired in 42 efforts.

Southampton's Graziano Pelle converts one of his chances in their win over Everton before Christmas

Hit woodwork and shot conversion ratio tables for the Premier League this season. Courtesy of Opta

TOTAL SHOTS ON GOAL 59 - Graziano Pelle 56 - Sergio Aguero 48 - Wilfried Bony 43 - Robin van Persie Advertisement

TOTAL SHOTS ON TARGET 34 - Sergio Aguero 28 - Charlie Austin 26 - Diego Costa 25 - Robin van Persie, Wilfried Bony Advertisement

THE CHANCE CREATORS

The contribution of Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea's season has been well-documented and the Spaniard has been worth his weight in gold since joining from Barcelona.

He has set up 13 goals, mainly for Diego Costa, and has crafted an incredible 61 chances for his team-mates, setting him well apart in these measures.

Some of these have come from set-pieces and so it's Cesc's Chelsea team-mates Eden Hazard, also excellent this season, who has created the most from open play (46).

Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas has contributed the most assists and created the most chances this season

Raheem Sterling of Liverpool sees his shot cannon back off the post against Swansea on Monday night

Alexis Sanchez has created 51 chances for Arsenal so far this season in the Premier League

This is a tie with Liverpool's Raheem Sterling, who has, in spells, replicated his fine form from last season.

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez was another big money buy over the summer and has been influential, setting up 51 chances for his colleagues.

ASSISTS 13 - Cesc Fabregas 8 - Gylfi Sigurdsson 7 - Leighton Baines, Dusan Tadic 6 - Alexis Sanchez, Stewart Downing, Angel di Maria, Jesus Navas Advertisement

CHANCES CREATED 61 - Cesc Fabgregas 54 - Stewart Downing 51 - Alexis Sanchez 50 - Dusan Tadic 47 - Eden Hazard Advertisement

PASS MASTERS

Given the above, it also comes as little wonder that Fabregas dominates the passing statistics, too.

He has successfully completed 1,367 of his 1,563 attempted passes in 19 matches since the start of the season - meaning 87.46 per cent of his efforts reach their intended recipient.

Rumours of Yaya Toure's demise seem to be exaggerated, at least according to these stats. The Ivorian has completed 1,324 of 1,478 passes and with an accuracy of 89.58 per cent, would appear to have the same influence as ever.

Cesc Fabregas tops the passing charts and scores too, including this one at Stoke City

Manchester City captain Yaya Toure has a passing accuracy of nearly 90 per cent this season

Passes attempted and successful passes for the Premier League so far. Courtesy of Opta

One of the best players to emerge in the opening half of the season is Chelsea's Nemanja Matic and he has made 1,065 of 1,209 passes, putting him third in the listings.

As for the teams, Manchester United have recorded the highest passing accuracy (85.4 per cent), while City have made the most overall (11,265).

Chelsea's Nemanja Matic also ranks highly in the passing statistics for the early season

Total team passes and passing accuracy in the Premier League this season. Courtesy of Opta

DRIBBLES

If Fabregas is the pass master, Hazard is king of the dribbles. His forays into the box with the ball at his feet have defenders panicking and fans on the edge of their seat.

He has attempted 151 dribbles so far and 89 resulted in a successful pass or a shot at goal.

Sterling (125) and Sanchez (119) also make the top five but both are topped by Palace's Yannick Bolasie (140).

Chelsea's Eden Hazard comes out on top in the dribbling statistics for the first half of the campaign

Crystal Palace's Yannick Bolasie has attempted the second-highest number of dribbles this season

Dribbles attempted and completed in the Premier League this season. Courtesy of Opta

DEFENCE AND DISCIPLINE

Fancy dribbling and metronomic passing make up only one facet of football - so who has been performing the best defensively?

Well, the man making the most tackles has been Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne (78), performing an incredibly important role tracking back and snuffing out oppositions attacks.

Chelsea's Matic has made 68, while Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak has made 64. The Australian has made the most interceptions by far with 68.

Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne has made the highest number of tackles in the league this season

Player tackles and interceptions in the Premier League so far. Courtesy of Opta

Interestingly, Palace are the league's dirtiest team in terms of fouls conceded with 258 but have received the fewest number of yellow cards (27).

Sunderland have been shown 49 yellow cards in their matches and nine of those were given to Lee Cattermole, the most in the division.

There have been 38 red cards in the season so far, with Paul Konchesky and Kyle Naughton the only two players to have been sent off twice.

Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak has proved himself adept at breaking up attacks

Lee Cattermole of Sunderland has collected a league-high nine yellow cards this season

Fouls conceded and yellow cards shown this season. Courtesy of Opta

GOALKEEPERS

The last line of defence - the goalkeeper - is equally important and there have been some stellar performances this season.

Swansea's Lukasz Fabianski and Southampton's Fraser Forster have kept the most clean sheets, with eight apiece. Joe Hart at Man City and Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea have shut out the opposition on seven occasions.

The busiest keeper in the league has been QPR's Rob Green, forced into making 69 saves. West Ham No 1 Adrian has been called upon to make 65, Aston Villa's Brad Guzan 64.

Green does top the table for goals conceded though - 31 have been scored past him so far this season.

QPR goalkeeper Rob Green has certainly been kept busy in the opening months of the season

SAVES MADE 69 - Rob Green 65 - Adrian 64 - Brad Guzan 62 - Tom Heaton Advertisement

GOALS CONCEDED 31 - Rob Green 29 - Tom Heaton, Julian Speroni 28 - Tim Howard 26 - Kasper Schmeichel, Ben Foster Advertisement

KEEP ON RUNNING

It's certainly a badge of honour to have run the furthest in the Premier League and that goes to Stoke's Steven Nzonzi, who has covered 214.8km in the first half of the season.

Fabregas isn't too far behind on 213.2km, while his Chelsea colleague Matic has covered 210.2km.

The stats show Burnley's Scott Arfield has made the most sprints in the season so far (1,248) with Liverpool speedster Sterling not far behind (1,242).

Stoke's Steven Nzonzi has covered more kilometres than any other Premier League player this season

Burnley's Scott Arfield has made the most sprints in the first half of the season