Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah completed the fastest hat-trick in UEFA Champions League in 2022.

Playing for Liverpool, Salah netted the fastest UCL treble in just six minutes against Rangers FC during a Group A encounter in the 2022-23 season. 

The Liverpool superstar came in as a substitute in the 68th minute and ended the match with a hat-trick to help Liverpool secure a massive 7-1 over Rangers FC in the group stage encounter of the 2022�?3 UEFA Champions League. 

Salah scored in 76th, 80th and 81st minute of the match to etch his name into the UEFA Champions League history books, rounding off an incredible victory for Liverpool.

 

Former France striker Bafetimbi Gomis scored the second-fastest hat-trick in UEFA Champions League history. Gomis netted a hat-trick for Lyon in just eight minutes during a 7-1 drubbing of Dinamo Zagreb in a Group D encounter of the 2011-12 season. 

Former Blackburn Rovers striker Mike Newell scored the third-fastest hat-trick in UEFA Champions League history. The Liverpool-born footballer netted a perfect hat-trick - left foot, right root and header - for Blackburn in just nine minutes during a 4-1 win over Rosenborg in 1995. It is still the quickest perfect hat trick scored in Europe’s biggest club competition.

Former Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling is fourth on the list for fastest UCL trebles having netted thrice in 11 minutes during a 5-1 win against Atalanta in the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League group stage.

Former Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski complete the list for fastest hat-tricks in UEFA Champions League.

While Ronaldo scored an 11-minute hat-trick for Real in an 8-0 annihilation of Malmo in 2015, former Bayern star Lewandowski bagged a hat-trick in 11 minutes in a 7-1 thrashing of FC Salzburg during the second leg of a Champions League 2021-22 round of 16 clash.

Fastest hat-trick in UEFA Champions League

Player	Time
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)	6 minutes
Bafetimbi Gomis (Lyon)	8 minutes
Mike Newell (Blackburn)	9 minutes
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)	11 minutes
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)	11 minutes
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)	11 minutes

 

Featured photo: AFP/ALBERTO PIZZOLI /PHILIPPE DESMAZES 

Former England goalkeeper David James believes that the England football team’s coach Gareth Southgate and his players will rise to the occasion in the UEFA Euro 2020 final against Italy on Sunday night. 

The former England goalkeeper thinks ‘it’s coming home�? not because England are playing at home but because they have a very wise and cool head in their manager on the sidelines.

“One thing Gareth has done is change this team to suit the opposition not only with the personnel but also with the setup and tactics and his selections have been spot on so far,�?James, who is in Mumbai as an expert for Sony Sports, told a media conference on Friday evening.

Addressing the “It’s Coming Home�?frenzy, he said, “I have avoided saying that as long as possible in this tournament. So, if football is coming home, It is coming home.”�?/span>

The former Kerala Blasters manager, who represented England in 53 games, has felt that Southgate has been smart in extracting the best out of the English players, including Raheem Sterling, one of the standout performers in the tournament. 

 

“Raheem has faced criticism by journalists and fans. As an England fan, I find the sources outdated. The goal tally may not be as good as previous seasons but his contribution is right up there with when Man City won the league. Gareth’s selection is based on what players do in training and his expectations from them to deliver on the pitch, not what they have achieved in the league and Raheem has been delivering for him. So, Gareth has got it right,�?James opined. 

The former Liverpool and Portsmouth goalkeeper also insisted that the Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma has done better in the Euros than his English counterpart Jordan Pickford despite the Everton shot-stopper keeping five clean sheets in six games. 

“Jordan Pickford had a fantastic tournament. He is almost like Ronaldo. He has broken records of most clean sheets. When you look at what he has had to do, he hasn’t been overly tested in spite of making great saves. Whereas Donnarumma has been put under pressure in the penalties where he made the winning save. So, Donnarumma is in better form, even though he has conceded more goals. So I think Donnarumma is the one to watch,�?he said.

When specifically quizzed about his prediction for the final, he quipped, “Going into the Euro, my second favorite team has been Italy and one of the things I have been saying is whoever beats Italy, wins the trophy.�?/span>

Featured photo: Frank Augstein /Laurence Griffiths / POOL / AFP

The England national football team will lock horns with Italy in a mouth-watering UEFA 2020 final, which will be played at the Wembley Stadium in London in the early hours of Monday, July 12.

Under the tutelage of head coach Gareth Southgate, The Three Lions will aim to end their 55-year wait for a piece of major international silverware. They last won the 1966 FIFA World Cup and are yet to lift a UEFA European Championship title.

On the other hand, Roberto Mancini’s Italy national football team has been on a 33-match unbeaten streak and the Azzurri will look to claim their second UEFA European Championship after clinching their maiden title at home in 1968.

Ahead of the final showdown, we picked our combined XI (3-4-3) from both the world-class squads:

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and England custodian Jordan Pickford have had stellar Euro 2020 campaigns for their respective sides. While England shot-stopper Pickford has been confirmed as the Euro 2020 Golden Glove winner for keeping five clean sheets and conceding just one goal in six matches so far, Italy No. 1 Donnarumma saved Spain’s Alvaro Morata’s penalty in the shootout to help the Italians secure a place in the final. 

 

The 22-year-old Italian keeper has conceded three goals in six matches and has kept three clean sheets in the ongoing tournament. While it was difficult to choose between the two, we have gone with Donnarumma as our preferred choice for his commanding presence between the sticks.

Centre-backs: Leonardo Bonucci (Italy), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy) and Harry Maguire (England) 

Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson famously stated, “attack wins you games, defence wins you titles.�?The duo of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini have been the stalwarts of the Italian defence for more than a decade now. The two veteran centre-backs have once again been rock solid at the ongoing European Championship, registering three clean sheets for the Azzurri.

 

Slotting in a three-man defence will be England centre-back, Harry Maguire. After missing the opening few games due to fitness concerns at Euro 2020, the 28-year-old Manchester United captain has been instrumental at the heart of England’s defence since returning to the playing XI in the group stage encounter against Czech Republic.

Right wingback: Kyle Walker (England)

Kyle Walker pips his Italian counterpart Giovanni Di Lorenzo for the right-back position for our combined XI. The 31-year-old Manchester City defender has been one of the standout players for The Three Lions at the ongoing European Championship. With his searing pace, Walker has been providing width in attack and stability to the England backline with his impressive recovery speed. In this system, Walker will have more freedom to attack and link up with the forward line.

 

Left wingback: Luke Shaw (England)

Italy’s Leonardo Spinazzola would have been an automatic choice for the left-back position if not for the horrific injury that he suffered during their 2-1 win over Belgium in the UEFA Euro 2020 quarter-final. The Roma full-back was one of the most influential players for the Italian side in the tournament. In Spinazzola’s absence, England full-back Luke Shaw has been picked in the left-back position. The Manchester United defender has been outstanding with his marauding runs forward and has provided three assists in the tournament. 

Midfielders: Marco Verratti (Italy), Jorginho (Italy)

For the midfield role, we have picked the Italian duo of Marco Verratti and Jorginho ahead of the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice and Manuel Locatelli. While PSG’s Verratti has once again shown why he is touted as one of the best deep-lying midfielders in the world, Chelsea’s Jorginho has become the heartbeat of the Italian national side. Both Verratti and Jorginho have been vital cogs in the Azzurri midfield, controlling the tempo of matches. 

Forwards: Raheem Sterling (England), Harry Kane (England) and Lorenzo Insigne (Italy) 

Raheem Sterling has arguably been England's player of the tournament at Euro 2020. The Manchester City winger has scored three goals and assisted once in the ongoing edition of the European Championship. In our 3-4-3 formation, the 26-year-old will play at the right-wing position ahead of Italy’s Federico Chiesa and Bukayo Saka of England. 

 

On the other hand, picking Harry Kane as the striker in our combined XI is a no-brainer. The Tottenham Hotspur forward has already bagged four goals in the tournament and is just one behind Euro 2020 top-scorers Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrik Schick, who have scored five apiece. For the left-wing position, we have picked Italy’s Lorenzo Insigne ahead of England’s Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho. The Napoli winger has been impressive for Italy, scoring a wonder goal against Belgium in the quarter-final. 

Manager: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

For our combined XI, we have picked Italy’s Roberto Mancini as our head coach over his England counterpart Gareth Southgate. The former Manchester City manager has transformed the Italian national side after the Azzurri had failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 60 years. Since then in three years, Italy have produced some delightful football and are currently on a 33-match unbeaten streak, which is a national record.

Featured photo: ALBERTO LINGRIA / Andy Rain /Matt Dunham/Laurence GRIFFITHS, Frank AUGSTEIN //POOL / AFP

Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri has heaped praise on England captain Harry Kane and winger Raheem Sterling, stating that their partnership will be a threat in the UEFA Euro 2020 final on Sunday, July 11.

Harry Kane, who has become England’s joint-top scorer in major tournaments (Euro and World Cup), has scored four goals in the Euro knockouts after drawing a blank in the group stage. Kane’s goal against Denmark made him just the second English player to score in the semi-final of a European championship.

Only two players have scored in a European Championship semi-final for #ENG

EURO 1996: Alan Shearer#EURO2020: Harry Kane

England’s No.9s delivering on the big stage. pic.twitter.com/qT6K6PQHsQ

�?Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 7, 2021

Sterling, on the other hand, has been England’s top player in recent times as he has made 22 goal contributions (15 goals, seven assists) in just as many games for the Three Lions.

The Manchester City winger, who won a controversial penalty for England in the semi-final against Denmark, registered nine dribbles against the Danes - the most by any player in a single match of Euro 2020 and Sterling’s brilliance hasn’t been lost on Chhetri.

9 - Raheem Sterling completed nine dribbles against Denmark, the most of any player in a single match at #EURO2020. Contact. pic.twitter.com/4xR2yHLKKM

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 8, 2021

“Every attacking move for England has happened because of (Raheem) Sterling. The whole English team is heavily reliant on him going forward. Sterling can open up the opposition defence, get behind their defender to ask for a long ball, can take the ball and start dribbling which is his forte,�?Sunil Chhetri said during a media interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.

Apart from Sterling, Chhetri credited Harry Kane for his impact on England. The Indian skipper believes there is no better number 9 for the Three Lions at present, and rated his opening goal against Ukraine as a “proper striker's finish�?in Euro 2020.

"There are some really good ones but because maybe it's recent, I think for me Kane's goal. The toe-poke! Sterling cuts in and passes the ball. Kane gambles and he didn't reach the ball so he toe-poked it. For me, that was a proper striker’s finish,�?the Indian football team captain said.

Furthermore, Chhetri reckoned that the Harry Kane-Raheem Sterling partnership is simply unmatched, especially in man-to-man situations.

“No country has a pairing like them (Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling). In man-to-man situations, Kane and Sterling can arguably beat anyone in the world.�?/span>

The Bengaluru FC frontman, though, insisted that Italy won’t be an easy team to beat in the UEFA Euro 2020 final. Chhetri expressed his admiration for Roberto Mancini's side, currently two games shy of matching the longest unbeaten run in international football.

“No matter which team you are, and against who you play, having a streak like this is outstanding. Italy does not have a flair like Spain or the individual brilliance of Brazil or Argentina but they are such a difficult team to play against,�?Chhetri said.

Watch England vs Italy at UEFA EURO 2020 - Finals, Live on Sony Ten 2 channel on 12th July at 12:30 AM

Featured image: AFP / Alberto Lingria

A Manchester Derby is a classic fixture that carries a story-telling purpose and is an exhibition of talent that skyrockets Premier League football’s base value.

Currently on a 21-game unbeaten run across all competitions, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has established a 14-point lead over bitter rivals Manchester United. The Cityzens are also on a streak of 15 straight Premier League wins, a stark contrast to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, who have drawn six of their last 10 Premier League matches.

While City have a full-fledged team at their disposal, the Red Devils will be without primary custodian David De Gea, midfielder Paul Pogba and striker Edinson Cavani.

To accommodate the best players from the Manchester teams into our combined XI, we have placed players in a 4-1-2-3 formation.

GK: Ederson

Suppose one has to compare Manchester City’s Ederson and Manchester United’s David De Gea, the obvious answer would be that the Brazilian custodian stands out with a better record between the sticks.

Ederson leads the race for the Golden Glove with 15 clean sheets, and with Dean Henderson confirmed to take De Gea’s place for the Manchester Derby, one ought to keep a close eye on how Ederson continues his spectacular run as the league’s top goalkeeper.

LB: Luke Shaw

Luke Shaw has been one of the most improved players for Manchester United this season, and his performances over the last few game weeks - four assists in his previous six games - earned him the Player of the month award for February.

CB: John Stones

Having been in the shadows in the last two seasons, English defender John Stones has become an irreplaceable player in Pep Guardiola’s matchday playing XI. The 26-year-old has been a part of 10 clean sheets since game week 10 and has contributed three goals in the process.

CB: Ruben Dias

Like Stones, Portuguese center-half Ruben Dias has been a prominent face in City’s matchday squads having played all but one game. With a 63% tackle success rate, Dias has registered 106 recoveries while winning 90 duels and 51 aerial battles. If anything, Guardiola will entrust him to restrict the movements of young winger Mason Greenwood.

RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been a key component of Manchester United’s gameplay from the right flank, forming a close partnership with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood. Although his ball distribution is a bit of a concern, the 23-year-old’s quick-paced runs and ability to retract in the defense from offensive gameplay is sure to give City’s left-back major issues.

CDM: Rodri

Without a doubt, Spain’s Rodri is the best player suited for the central defensive midfielder role, given his returns are better than that of the United trio of Scott McTominay, Fred, and Nemanja Matic. Rodri has averaged 81.24 passes per game while registering a tackle success rate of 60%, which is significantly greater than McTominay’s record of 36.57 passes per game and a tackle success rate of 44%.

CM: Kevin de Bruyne

Despite being injured for a large portion of the 2020-21 Premier League season, Kevin de Bruyne has been a significant contributor to Manchester City’s spectacular form. The Belgian, who has made 21 appearances in the English top-flight league this term, has 11 assists so far and aims to get back on the scoresheet once again, having played a role in just one goal since returning from a hamstring injury. 

CM: Bruno Fernandes

If one has to pick out Manchester United’s Player of the Season, it has to be Bruno Fernandes. Since his transfer last January, the Portuguese has been a revelation for the Red Devils with 23 goals and 17 assists to his name, and despite enduring a topsy-turvy season, the 26-year-old has stacked 15 goals and 10 assists.

Bruno has one assist in three meetings with Manchester City, and will look to hit his first goal against the runaway leaders.

RW: Riyad Mahrez

Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez has hit form in his last four games, with two goals and two assists, and manager Pep Guardiola expects the 30-year-old to give United’s Luke Shaw a torrid time in the upcoming Manchester Derby.

Blessed with incredible pace and creativity, Riyad Mahrez is tasked to give the hosts an early lead while setting up impressive gameplay in and around the opposition box.

ST: Sergio Aguero

Long-serving striker Sergio Aguero will enter his 14th Manchester Derby in the Premier League, to break Wayne Rooney’s record of 11 derby goals. The Argentine attacker has featured just six times this term, with much of his time out injured and spending the entirety of January in quarantine for testing positive.

With rumors circling that Aguero’s days are numbered at the Etihad Stadium, the 32-year-old will be keen to silence them with a performance that consolidates his status as a Cityzen legend. 

LW: Raheem Sterling

In terms of scoring ability, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford are almost on par, but it is the latter who has been slightly better. But, what sets Sterling apart is his consistency in goal contributions.

Raheem Sterling’s versatility in the attacking third is something that will cause trouble for United’s Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, and Pep Guardiola will bank on this tactic to dent the neighbour’s hopes to trim down City’s 14-point lead.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Shaun Botterill

Premier League Gameweek 8 brings along another round of exciting fixtures, with the biggest one being Manchester City’s showdown with Liverpool on Sunday. Other games include Manchester United’s trip to Goodison Park to square off against Everton while a free-flowing Leicester City welcome Wolves at King Power Stadium. 

With some high-profile clashes in store, the fantasy managers are bound to have that sweet conundrum while picking their teams for the week. So with that being said, we give you five players that are bound to have an impact for their respective teams:

Player: Hakim Ziyech

Team: Chelsea

Match: Chelsea vs Sheffield United

Sheffield United are one of the three teams that are yet to win a game this season. They travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Saturday knowing that a point will do a world of good for them. The Blues, on the other hand, are on a goal-scoring streak, notching as many as 10 goals in their last three games, with a certain Hakim Ziyech playing his part in three of them. The Moroccan may have scored a solitary goal in the league this season, but he has well and truly found his footing, and one can expect him to play a big role against Sheffield on Saturday.

Player: Aaron Cresswell

Team: West Ham United

Match: West Ham United vs Fulham

Fulham have shipped in 14 goals this season - third-highest in the league so far - and are rightly prone to conceding more when they face West Ham United away from home. As for the Hammers, they are expected to ride on the back of Aaron Cresswell’s breathtaking form. The 30-year-old full-back has three assists in seven league games and provided 15 successful crosses - a league-high. His deliveries from the touchline or even from the set-pieces are tipped to give you bonus points. If you are hunting for a defender, Cresswell is your man.

Player: Jamie Vardy

Team: Leicester City

Match: Leicester City vs Wolves

Three of Leicester’s last five meetings with Wolves have ended in a 0-0 draw, but two games have seen a total of nine goals, with Diogo Jota’s sensational hat-trick inspiring Wolves to a 4-3 win in January 2019, while a goal from James Maddison guided Leicester to a 2-0 victory in September 2018. And while Jamie Vardy has provided a single assist in these two games, his current form tips him to be the difference on Sunday. The 33-year-old has bagged six goals and an assist in his last five appearances, meaning that he is certain to be a menace for the Wolves defence which has conceded just eight goals in the league (second-lowest) so far.

Player: Raheem Sterling

Team: Manchester City

Match: Manchester City vs Liverpool

In arguably the biggest showdown of the week, expect Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling to grab the headlines one way or another. Manchester City vs Liverpool has produced a whopping 18 goals in their last five meetings and it is safe to say that the games have duly lived up to their billing. As for Sterling, he was on target the last time these two met, which saw a thumping 4-0 win for Manchester City. While he has struggled to live up to the potential he has set for himself, being a former Red, Sterling will want to be on the scoresheet once again.

Player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Team: Arsenal

Match: Arsenal vs Aston Villa

Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ended his goalless run against Manchester United last week. Sure, he has struggled to be amongst goals this season, but you just cannot write him off. Arsenal host Aston Villa on Sunday (Monday as per IST), and the Gabonese will certainly be the one his team will build their attack around, and thus, we put our punt on the 31-year-old. With Villa conceding seven goals in their last two outings, Arteta will want Aubameyang to step up and pile further misery on their fate.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Shaun Botterill

After a brief international break, Premier League football returns this weekend, and we have some exciting games waiting in store. The gameweek five kicks off with the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park followed by Manchester City playing host to Arsenal at the Etihad. And with that being said, here we give you five players who are highly tipped to gather most points from the upcoming round of fixtures.

Player: Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Team: Everton

Match: Everton vs Liverpool

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is thriving under Carlo Ancelotti, but more so alongside James Rodriguez. So when they welcome their city rivals Liverpool - a team they haven’t defeated since 2010 - at Goodison Park on Saturday, October 17, a lot will depend on how the 23-year-old striker performs. Having already scored nine goals in all competitions this season, including two hat-tricks, Calvert-Lewin is certain to be Everton’s go-to man. More effective in front of the goal this season, the 23-year-old is highly tipped to add further misery to Liverpool’s defence which has already shipped in 11 goals in just four Premier League outings.

Player: Kurt Zouma

Team: Chelsea

Match: Chelsea vs Southampton

Chelsea welcome Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday with a hope keeping their second clean sheet of the season. The Saints have scored just six goals in four league appearances and Chelsea will be counting on Kurt Zouma in order to keep their goal clean. Zouma, a clear danger in set-piece situations, has bagged two goals in four appearances already this season. 

Furthermore, since their 3-1 win over the Blues in 2015, Southampton have won just one of their last 10 encounters against Chelsea, scoring a mere eight goals in the process. Chelsea, on the other hand, have kept six clean sheets during the tenure, and one can expect more of the same on Saturday.

Player: Raheem Sterling

Team: Manchester City

Match: Manchester City vs Arsenal

Manchester City have sure endured a difficult start to their 2020/21 Premier League campaign, but they will be riding high on the fact that a certain Raheem Sterling has enjoyed great success against their Saturday’s opponents, Arsenal. The Gunners, who have won three of their four league games so far, visit Etihad Stadium on October 17, and will be wary of the threat Sterling poses. The English winger, along with Kevin de Bruyne, has terrorized Arsenal’s defence in his recent outings, having scored three goals in his last five games. City will be hoping to get back to winning ways against Arsenal and for that, expect them to count on Sterling a big time.

Player: Callum Wilson

Team: Newcastle United

Match: Newcastle United vs Manchester United

Newcastle’s summer acquisition, Callum Wilson has been a total revelation of the Magpies, scoring four goals in as many league matches so far. Steve Bruce’s men next face a struggling Manchester United side, which has shipped in 11 goals a mere three outings. Judging by how leaky their defence has been, expect striker Callum Wilson to rub salt on United’s fresh wounds. He is highly tipped to find the back of the net. Coming on the back of an exhilarating performance against Burnley, the former Bournemouth striker will be riding high on confidence against Manchester United. He sure is a gamble, but United’s ongoing struggles make him one of the top candidates in fantasy football.

Player: Harry Kane

Team: Tottenham Hotspur

Match: Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United

Tottenham striker Harry Kane is in the form of his life. Having already bagged eight goals and six assists in all competitions this season, it goes without saying that he needs to be the first man in your team. Tottenham take on West Ham United, who have surprisingly defeated both Wolves (4-0) and Leicester City (3-0) already this season. They, however, have also shown defensive frailties at times, and Kane would need no second invitation in that regard. The English striker, alongside Son Heung-Min, has been an absolute terror, and one can expect more of the same agianst West Ham on Sunday.

If you wish to raise the stakes further, Sportsbet.io has even more to offer!

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Andrew Boyers

Matchweek 36 sees the fight for the European spots tense up as the in-form Arsenal, who are unbeaten in three Premier League matches, take on champions Liverpool in a crunch tie for a European spot. On other important ties, two more European aspirants Leicester City and Sheffield United battle it out for a place in the top six, with both clubs looking to take advantage of Chelsea’s loss to Sheffield last time round.

While the race for the Golden Boot gets as heated as the fight for European competition, with the primary contenders being Jamie Vardy, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Danny Ings, let’s have a look at five players to have in your Nostragamus fantasy teams:

Player: Raheem Sterling

Team: Manchester City

Match: Manchester City vs Bournemouth

Raheem Sterling might not have been at his razor-sharp best this season but the former Liverpool player has been one of their most prolific goalscorers against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The English wideman scored one goal the last time these two teams met, taking his total tally to four against the Cherries in their last five games. With Pep reportedly more interested in finishing second, he will hope Sterling will be able to find his scoring boots for the third match running against Bournemouth.

Player: Mohamed Salah

Team: Liverpool

Match: Arsenal vs Liverpool

Mohamed Salah has always shown the knack of scoring goals against Arsenal. The Egyptian winger has scored five goals in as many appearances against the North London club, including three in the last two for Liverpool. He will look to continue this form against Arsenal, who haven’t lost a game at home against Liverpool in their last five fixtures.

Player: Jamie Vardy

Team: Leicester City

Match: Leicester City vs Sheffield United

Although Arsenal vs Liverpool could prove to be the blockbuster fixture for the next matchweek, the game between Leicester and Sheffield will prove to be a crunch tied for both teams. Jamie Vardy was back to his goalscoring best and added another goal against Arsenal to get an important equaliser and lead the goalscoring charts. He will need to be at his firing best against Sheffield, or risk losing the third spot to Chelsea.

Player: Mason Greenwood

Team: Manchester United

Match: Crystal Palace vs Manchester United

Mason Greenwood has been creating ripples in recent times with his strong performances for Manchester United. The front three of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Greenwood have scored the bulk of United’s goals since the restart, with the addition of Bruno Fernandes giving the team a cutting edge in their attack. The England youth international has now scored four goals in three appearances, making him among the top-scoring teenagers in Premier League history.

Player: Danny Ings

Team: Southampton

Match: Southampton vs Brighton and Hove Albion

Brighton will be wary of the in-form Southampton in a bid to stay above the relegation zone. Danny Ings has one goal in two appearances as a Saints player against Brighton, but his current goalscoring form, which allowed his side to earn an important draw against Everton, will be key against Brighton. He now has 19 goals, and with both Aubameyang and Vardy facing tough fixtures, all eyes will be on Ings to grab a goal or two against the Seagulls.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Peter Byrne

Their quest for a third-straight Premier League title may not have gone the way they envisioned however, Manchester City’s attackers have been their brilliant selves this season. Following their 5-0 drubbing of Newcastle United, their quintet of forwards entered the Premier League records books, as for the first time in PL history, a team has had five players with 10 or more league goals in a season. 

Below, we take a look at the five attackers who are a part of this record-breaking group:

Sergio Aguero

City’s all-time leading goalscorer, Sergio Aguero has yet again been the talisman for the side. The Argentine has struck 16 goals in the Premier League this season and was in contention for the golden boot till a knee injury that needed a surgery ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Todo salió bien y pronto comenzaré con la recuperación. Muchas gracias al Dr. Cugat y a su equipo y a todos por tanto apoyo//Everything went well, and I'll soon begin recovery. A big thanks to Dr Cugat and his team �?and to all of you for your support pic.twitter.com/Frm07cN3WF

�?Sergio Kun Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) June 24, 2020

City are hopeful that the Argentine will play a part in City’s bid to lift their maiden UEFA Champions League campaign crown in August.

Raheem Sterling

Winger Raheem Sterling, who has been a regular since Pep Guardiola took over the reins at the Etihad, has enjoyed another tremendous campaign and has scored 14 times in the Premier League for the Cityzens.

View this post on Instagram

Perfect night out

A post shared by Raheem Sterling x (@sterling7) on Jul 2, 2020 at 2:57pm PDT

Sterling was on target against his former side Liverpool when the outgoing champions thumped the current champions 4-0, laying down a marker for the 2020/21 season. Sterling can add to his tally in City’s remaining fixtures in the Premier League.

Kevin De Bruyne

The favourite to win the Premier League Player of the Year, Kevin De Bruyne has enjoyed a sensational season, despite his team failing in their bid to win a hattrick of PL titles.

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Great game

A post shared by Kevin De Bruyne (@kevindebruyne) on Jul 3, 2020 at 1:24am PDT

De Bruyne has been City’s talisman and has struck 11 times in the league this season. The Belgian playmaker has assisted 18 goals in the Premier League for the second time in his career and is just two shy of Thierry Henry’s record of 20 that the Frenchman managed in 2002/03.

Gabriel Jesus

Diminutive Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus has been an extremely reliable replacement in the absence of Aguero since his move to the Etihad in 2016. 

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⚽️

A post shared by Gabriel Jesus (@dejesusoficial) on Jul 8, 2020 at 12:31pm PDT

The tenacious and tireless forward has scored 11 times for City in the Premier League and will be keen to add to that tally in City’s remaining Premier League fixtures. Jesus will be a key figure in City’s Champions League aspirations as Aguero’s participation remains a major doubt.

Riyad Mahrez

After a lackluster debut campaign last season, Riyad Mahrez has found his element this season in a City shirt and has struck 10 times in the Premier League for his side.

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Big result tonight even if i wish it was more

A post shared by RM26 (@riyadmahrez26.7) on Jul 2, 2020 at 2:40pm PDT

Leroy Sane’s injury in the Community Shield paved the way for Mahrez to feature regularly and he’s repaid manager Pep Guardiola’s faith in him with some brilliant performances, reminiscent of his PFA Player of the Year award-winning campaign with Leicester. With Sane swapping Manchester for Munich, Mahrez is set to be a key player for City for the foreseeable future.

The fight for the top four is heating up, with a few of the bigger names getting important wins. Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Watford built pressure on third-placed Leicester City, who dished out an important 3-0 win themselves over Crystal Palace in a fight for the third spot. Meanwhile, Arsenal have found their winning form after a disastrous start to Project Restart. Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette scored important goals to beat sixth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home, moving them into seventh; a spot closer to potential European football.

However, the pick of the bunch from the last gameweek has to be Manchester United, who fought back from 1-0 to beat a lowly Bournemouth side 5-2. Mason Greenwood notched two goals but it was Bruno Fernandes who commanded the show. The same is expected from a buoyant United side, as we look at the five players who might influence your Nostragamus fantasy managers:

Player: Bruno Fernandes

Team:  Manchester United

Match: Aston Villa vs Manchester United

As mentioned above, Bruno Fernandes was the key cog in United’s attacking threat in their win over Bournemouth. In fact, his addition has been a worthy one, with United’s front three recording 55 goals in all competitions this season, four more than champions Liverpool’s attacking trio.

Fernandes has six goals in nine appearances for the Red Devils while getting five assists as well. This includes two assists against Bournemouth and a beautifully struck freekick. Expect the Portuguese midfielder to be involved in a few more attacks against relegation-threatened Aston Villa.

Player: Raheem Sterling

Team: Manchester City

Match: Manchester City vs Newcastle United

Sterling has not been at his prolific best this season, having scored 13 goals in 27 appearances, while getting just one assist. However, the wide-man was at his usual best against champions Liverpool, scoring his side’s second goal as the champions went on to beat them 4-0.

Against a buoyant Newcastle United under Steve Bruce, who will be looking to spoil the mood of City, Sterling will need to be sharp as a razor. He was subpar against an in-form Southampton, who went on to score a solitary goal to beat the former champions of England.

Player: Mohamed Salah

Team: Liverpool

Match: Brighton and Hove Albion vs Liverpool

Mohamed Salah might not have hit the peak of his form but it was enough to lead Liverpool to their first league title in 30 years. He is Liverpool’s leading goalscorer this season (17) while assisting another eight.

Although Salah might not have scored in the 4-0 loss to Manchester City, or the 2-0 win over Aston Villa, the Egyptian has an impeccable record against Brighton, with four goals in five appearances against them, while Liverpool have beaten them on all five occasions, with Salah scoring the winning goal on two occasions. 

Player: Jamie Vardy

Team: Leicester City

 Match: Arsenal vs Leicester City

Jamie Vardy has been at his best this season and finds himself on top of the Golden Boot standings after scoring two goals in Leicester City’s 3-0 win over City. While the 33-year-old striker faces stiff competition from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Vardy’s strong form beats the Gabonese striker to the spot.

Vardy has scored six goals and one assist in five previous appearances against the Gunners. Leicester will be looking to do the double over Arsenal and secure third spot but the job at hand will be tough with Arteta’s new-look Arsenal finding important form at the tail end of the Premier League.

Player: Danny Ings

Team: Southampton

Match: Everton vs Southampton

Danny Ings has been the surprise package among the Premier League strikers this season. He is third on the Golden Boot standings, with 18 goals in 33 appearances for the Saints. The 27-year-old striker has scored important goals for the Saints, leading the team like a one-man army.

Southampton find themselves in 13^th after a surprise 1-0 win over Manchester City. Ings will need to be at his firing best, scoring three goals in three appearances since Project Restart. Ings has a formidable record against Everton, scoring a goal on his full debut for Southampton, which was against Everton. He also scored the last time the two sides met in November.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Adam Davy