Premier League’s most dangerous revealed…
Judging by the combined total of their goals and assists, these six superstars have been more effective in the final third than anyone else in the Premier League so far…
First up is the country’s highest paid player, and England’s widely renowned ‘World Cup hope’, Wayne Rooney…
4= Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Games played: 20 (2)
Goals: 10
Assists: 9
Goals + assists: 19
Rooney is deployed in a deeper, withdrawn no.10 role for United, and is as effective creatively as he is clinical. He almost averages a goal or an assist per match, and he’s been the undoubted bright spark of a fairly miserable season at Old Trafford…
It will now be down to the Englishman to prove he’s worth his mammoth £300k-per-week contract extension, and drag United but to the top of the Premier League table where they belong.
4= Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)
Games played: 25
Goals: 12
Assists: 7
Goals + assists: 19
Giroud is criticised for his nervous finishing when presented with guilt-edged chances, but the statistics show he’s constantly provided an end product for the Gunners this term. While his goal tally could be higher, his seven assists are impressive, and show how valuable he is to his side as a focal point from which the Gunners’ brilliant attacking midfielders can work off.
Wonderful flicked assists for Jack Wilshere’s goal against Norwich earlier in the season, and Tomas Rosicky’s effort against Sunderland at the weekend will live long in the memory, too.
3. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Games played: 15 (2)
Goals: 15
Assists: 5
Goals + assists: 20
No other striker in European football has a better goal/minute ratio than City’s Argentine, whose season would have no doubt been more impressive had injuries not forced him out for lengthy periods.
Before Christmas, his partnership up top with Spanish powerhouse Alvaro Negredo was especially impressive, and when Aguero regains fitness, the pair will hope to fire the Sky Blues to Premier League title success this term.
2. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)
Games played: 17 (2)
Goals: 18
Assists: 5
Goals + assists: 23
Despite criticism for being selfish in the final third (as the occasional on-pitch strops from his strike partner Luis Suarez suggest), Sturridge has actually assisted five goals already this term.
When you combine this with his 18 goals in just 17 starts, we have one of the statistically best forwards in European football this term.
The Englishman’s pace is exceptional, but his finishing is becoming increasingly composed and clinical.
1. Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Games played: 22
Goals: 23
Assists: 9
Goals + assists: 32
Suarez currently has scored more league goals than any player in Europe, and only Cesc Fabregas has registered more assists than the brilliant Uruguayan.
Due to teammate Daniel Sturridge’s excellent recent form, Suarez has started from deeper in 2014, competing for space down either flank, before making late bursts into the penalty box. Although his goalscoring his dried up as a result, he’s still been wonderfully effective – and is a strong favourite for the Premier League Player of the Year award.
