Comparing top 3 strike partnerships in EPL

Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge

Much has been made this season about which strike partnership is the best in the league. After years of teams favouring one up front and a five man midfield, it seems there might just be a swing back towards two out-and-out strikers.

The three pairings most often thrown into the debate are Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero, and Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. Looking just at data taken from the Premier League, who has been the best so far this season?

Suarez and Sturridge

Appearances together: 6

Goals: 12

Shots on target: 25

Shots off target: 24

Assists: 3

Chances created: 26

Mins per goal: 40

Because of Suarez’s ban, which ruled him out if the first five league matches, and Liverpool’s lack of Champions League football, they have played together much less than the other two pairings so far this season. When they have played, though, they’ve been excellent, with some really inventive link-up play demonstrating their excellent understanding of one another’s game, and plenty of goals thrown in, too.

Luis Suarez’s goal map this season

Both players have exceptional movement. Never are they stood still waiting for things to happen—they are proactive, constantly looking to create. They’re quick, intelligent players, and in the case of Luis Suarez, incredibly gifted and skillful.

In the six appearances they’ve made together this season, they’ve already managed 12 goals and three assists. After the disruption Suarez’s ban caused, they could have been forgiven for taking time to click, but the results have been instant.

Negredo and Aguero

Appearances together: 13

Goals: 21

Shots on target: 40

Shots off target: 28

Assists: 9

Chances created: 19

Mins per goal: 40

City’s forward line has been outstanding. Having never played together before prior to this season, the way they have performed as a pair has been remarkable.

The size and strength of Negredo, who does much of the work outside of the box, seems to be the perfect foil for Aguero, a devastatingly quick, incredibly skillful player.

Aguero is in the form of his life, and currently has more goals this season that he had at this stage of his 30 goal debut season of 2011-12. Every time he steps on to the pitch at the moment he seems likely to score. Indeed, he’s bagged 13 goals in 13 games in all competitions this season.

Sergio Aguero’s goals this season

In terms of their partnership, they have statistically been the best, managing 21 goals and nine assists when on the pitch together. They have scored a goal every 40 minutes when in tandem, which a fantastic record and could well lead City to the title if sustained.

Rooney and Van Persie

Appearances together: 10

Goals: 12

Shots on target: 27

Shots off target: 28

Assists: 6

Chances created: 25

Mins per goal: 61

The least impressive pairing would appear to be Rooney and Van Persie. Some United fans worry about their ability to work effectively as a pair. Individually both are exceptional players, but there is a feeling that the understanding so central to the Suarez-Sturridge and Negredo-Aguero partnerships isn’t being matched by United’s strikers.

Van Persie is arguably the most complete forward in the Premier League. He can score with either foot, scores goals inside and outside the box, takes set pieces and can play as a No. 9 or in a slightly withdrawn role. There’s very little he can’t do. Rooney is capable of scoring all types of goals, and is also incredibly hardworking.

But they’re not working as effectively as they should be. This may be attributable to United’s poor start in general, but the fact is it takes them longer to score goals when playing together than the City and Liverpool pairings.