Daniel Sturridge’s stunning late equaliser at Stamford Bridge on Saturday was another reminder of just how good a striker Liverpool have playing second-fiddle to Roberto Firmino.
The Reds’ forward already has four goals to his name this season and, if he stays fit, he’ll play a huge part in his side’s push for silverware this season.
The form of Sturridge has got many people talking, including Danny Murphy, who’s gone as far as saying the 29-year-old is the best ‘second choice’ striker in the Premier League.
We’ve decided to have a think and see if he’s right. Read on for our take on all 20 of the Premier League’s backup strikers.
20. Gary Madine (Cardiff City)
Age: 28
League appearances this season: 4
Target man Madine is yet to score a single goal for Neil Warnock’s side since signing for the Bluebirds last January. He scored 10 goals for Bolton in the first half of last season but has failed to live up to expectations at Cardiff, who spent £6m on him ahead of their promotion push.
He has made four substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and started Cardiff’s 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Norwich in August.
19. Aboubakar Kamara (Fulham)
Age: 23
League appearances this season: 2
Kamara is capable of playing in a number of attacking positions and is having to settle for a role as a bit-part player upon the Cottagers return to the Premier League.
The Frenchman netted seven goals for Slavisa Jokanovic’s side in the Championship last season but has his work cut out if he’s to displace Aleksandar Mitrovic as the club’s first-choice striker this term.
But at 23, Kamara still has time on his side. He started Fulham’s away defeat to Spurs in August and has also played in both of their Carabao Cup ties so far this season, scoring twice in their second-round clash with Exeter City.
18. Laurent Depoitre (Huddersfield Town)
Age: 29
League appearances this season: 7
Depoitre managed seven goals for Huddersfield Town last season and played a crucial role in keeping David Wagner’s side in the Premier League.
For much of his time with the Terriers, the Belgian has rotated with Steve Mounie as the team’s first-choice striker, but the 29-year-old has only started two league games so far this season and is yet to register a goal.
17. Fernando Llorente (Tottenham)
Age: 33
League appearances this season: 1
Llorente is a player who’s best days as a football are now over. He’s had an excellent career and was seen as one of Europe’s most impressive strikers during his time with Athletic Bilbao and Juventus. He was also a part of Spain’s World Cup winning squad in 2010.
But it’s no surprise that many feel Spurs need a better backup option to Harry Kane. Llorente has made just two substitute appearances in all competitions so far this season.
16. Lys Mousset (Bournemouth)
Age: 22
League appearances this season: 4
Mousset is a France U21 international and a player that Eddie Howe believes can go on to become a big player for the Cherries.
He is yet to start a league match for Bournemouth this season, with Josh King and Callum Wilson impressing in attack. But at 22, Mousset is a player that Howe will be expecting to eventually work his way into the first XI at the Vitality Stadium.
15. Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton)
Age: 26
League appearances this season: 4
Italian forward Gabbiadini looked as if he was going to have a real impact on the Premier League when he arrived from Napoli in 2017, scoring four goals in his first three appearances.
But since then he has struggled to perform in England and is currently behind Danny Ings, Charlie Austin and Shane Long in the pecking order at St. Mary’s.
14. Jurgen Locadia (Brighton)
Age: 24
League appearances this season: 6
Eyebrows were raised when Brighton managed to secure the signing of Locadia in January. The former PSV man made his debut for the Dutch side in 2011 and went on to score 62 goals in the Eredivisie.
But since his arrival in England, Locadia has struggled to break into the first XI for Chris Hughton’s side, with Glenn Murray impressing again this season.
13. Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace)
Jordan Ayew has been relegated at three of the last four clubs he has joined:
• Sochaux (2013/14)
• Aston Villa (2015/16)
• Swansea (2017/18)— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 9, 2018
Age: 27
League appearances this season: 3
Ayew has struggled during his time with Palace so far but showed he can be a useful forward whilst with Aston Villa and Swansea City.
The Ghanian striker arrived on loan from Swansea this season and started the campaign as back-up to Christian Benteke. An injury to the Belgian has given Ayew a chance to impress from the start at Selhurst Park, but he is yet to get his first goal for the club, despite starting the Eagles’ last three league matches.
12. Isaac Success (Watford)
Age: 22
League appearances this season: 7
Success is looking to get his Watford career back on track this season and has made substitute appearances in all seven of the Hornets’ league games so far this season.
Javi Gracia is keen to mould the Nigerian into a striker, rather than a wide player and the 22-year-old has enjoyed a relatively successful start to the season. He netted in both of Watford’s Carabao Cup ties but may now find his opportunities more limited after Spurs knocked Gracia’s side out on penalties last week.
11. Leo Bonatini (Wolves)
Age: 24
League appearances this season: 5
Brazilian forward Bonatini played a big part in Wolves’ promotion to the Premier League but finds himself as the club’s second choice striker for this season after the arrival of Raul Jimenez.
He assisted Adama Traore’s winning goal against West Ham at the start of September and Nuno Espirito Santo still values the 24-year-old as a vital part of his squad.
10. Michail Antonio (West Ham)
Age: 28
League appearances this season: 6
The likes of Javier Hernandez and Lucas Perez might have something to say about our selection of Antonio here, but Manuel Pellegrini has regularly opted to use the former Nottingham Forest man as Marko Arnautovic’s deputy so far this season.
The 28-year-old is most comfortable playing as a winger but his versatility is something that Pellegrini certainly seems to value. Antonio has made four league starts for the Hammers this season and scored in their 8-0 rout against Macclesfield Town in the League Cup.
9. Joselu (Newcastle United)
Age: 28
League appearances this season: 7
Spanish forward Joselu has actually started four league games this season, more than Salomon Rondon, who Newcastle brought in with the intentions of him being their first choice striker.
Rondon is now injured and expected to be sidelined until later in October, which should see the former Stoke City forward given more chances to impress. He has already managed two league goals this season, which is already half of his tally from last season.
8. Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
Age: 28
League appearances this season: 6
Barnes is one of Sean Dyche’s ever-reliable performers at Turf Moor, but he has only started one league game so far this season, with the likes of Sam Vokes, Chris Wood and Matej Vydra all getting the nod ahead of him.
He has an impressive goal record for Burnley, though, and scored two goals off the bench in The Clarets’ 4-0 win over Bournemouth towards the end of September.
7. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
Age: 21
League appearances this season: 6
England youth international Calvert-Lewin has started Everton’s last four games, but his last two have seen him play as a central striker at the expense of first choice option Cenk Tosun.
He scored in The Toffees’ 1-1 draw with Huddersfield earlier this season and looks like he will clock up a lot of minutes under Marco Silva this season.
6. Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City)
Age: 32
League appearances this season: 3
Okazaki has proved himself to be a hugely reliable performer for Leicester since his arrival at the club in 2015.
At 32, and with just three league appearances to his name so far this season, he is perhaps now past his best years with the club, but he is still a valuable and experienced option for Claude Puel to have at his disposal this season. Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Ihenacho are ahead of him in the pecking order as it stands.
5. Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)
Age: 27
League appearances this season: 5
It looks as if Welbeck could provide a valuable backup option to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette this season, with both players in Unai Emery’s preferred starting XI as it stands.
Many forget that Welbeck was part of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad and also featured in their recent matches against Spain and Switzerland. If he can stay fit, this could be an important season for the 27-year-old, who already has four goals to his name this season.
4. Alvaro Morata (Chelsea)
Age: 25
League appearances this season: 6
At the start of the season, Alvaro Morata would not have been part of this article. He began Maurizio Sarri’s reign as the Blues’ first-choice striker and scored in their second league game of the season against Arsenal.
But his form since then has been similar to his performances from the end of last season and Olivier Giroud seems to have gone ahead of him in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge. Still, you only have to look at the club’s Morata has played for to know he has talent.
3. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Age: 20
League appearances this season: 4
Many will find it ridiculous that Rashford is having to settle for a role as a backup player at United, but that’s the reality. Romelu is, of course, Jose Mourinho’s first-choice centre-forward, but Rashford’s ability to play wide should see him tally up plenty of minutes this season.
His clever finish in United’s recent loss to West Ham United was another reminder of Rashford’s talent. He was England’s standout performer in their most recent matches and will be hoping for a big season for both club and country.
2. Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)
Age: 29
League appearances this season: 5
Write off Daniel Sturridge at your peril. The striker was expected to leave Liverpool in the summer after a hugely disappointing loan spell at West Brom last season. Instead, he has responded by netting four goals in his first seven appearances of the season, with Jurgen Klopp claiming the forward is in the best shape he’s ever seen him in.
His incredible goal against Chelsea on Saturday was a reminder of Sturridge’s ability in the final third. Danny Murphy has him down as the best back-up striker in the Premier League, we’ve got him falling just short. He’s certainly not far off, though.
1. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
Age: 21
League appearances this season: 6
Gabriel Jesus will be first to admit he’s not in his best period of form, but his talent is undeniable. The 21-year-old was Brazil’s first choice striker at the World Cup and there’s a reason for that.
In Sergio Aguero, he has one of the world’s finest strikers ahead of him, but Jesus will still play a vital role in City’s season.
The post Ranked: All 20 Premier League back-up strikers appeared first on Squawka News.
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