We compare two main striking threats for Manchester United and Liverpool, Wayne Rooney and Luis Suarez, and look at their stats for the start of the Premier League season.
ROONEY MAN UTD’S MAIN THREAT
Wayne Rooney has started the season in blistering from. The Manchester United and England striker is currently the Premier League’s top scorer and will be looking to add to his tally against Liverpool at Anfield this weekend.
The ex-Evertonian has nine goals from six appearances this season and Manchester United have won every game he has played in – drawing the only one he has missed.
Wayne Rooney and Luis Suarez: Premier League 2011/12
| Player | Wayne Rooney | Luis Suarez |
| Appearances | 6 | 7 |
| Minutes played | 521 | 503 |
| Goals | 9 | 4 |
| Left-footed goals | 1 | 2 |
| Headed goals | 1 | 1 |
| Right-footed goals | 7 | 1 |
| Goals from inside box | 6 | 4 |
| Goals from outside box | 3 | 0 |
| Goals from open play | 4 | 3 |
| Shooting accuracy % | 59,1% | 47,4% |
| Touches per game | 67,3 | 49,0 |
| Assists | 2 | 0 |
| Passes per match | 52,8 | 32,0 |
| Passing accuracy % | 78,5% | 79,1% |
Wayne Rooney’s importance to Manchester United and the variety in his all round game are demonstrated by the statistics of his season so far.
The England striker has scored 9 goals, 3 of which have been from outside the box. Of those 9 goals only 4 have been from open play, which shows how deadly his strike can be from set pieces.
Rooney has a shooting accuracy of 59.1% and is highly involved in matches touching the ball on average 67.3 times a game.
Rooney’s role in the construction of United’s attacking moves is represented by him making an average of 52.8 passes a match. To add to this 78.5% of his passes reach their destination.
Manchester United attacking player’ statistics (Premier League 2011/12)
| Player | Goals | Assists | Shots (inc. blocked) |
| Rooney, Wayne | 9 | 2 | 37 |
| Welbeck, Danny | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| Nani | 3 | 3 | 21 |
| Anderson | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Young, Ashley | 2 | 5 | 14 |
LIVERPOOL’S LUIS SUAREZ LOOKS TO SNATCH A WINNER
Luis Suarez is currently Liverpool’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with 4 goals.
The Uruguayan has been prolific in front of goal this season and has been a key element of their recent revival.
This season the forward has allowed Liverpool to keep up with the pace setters at the top of the table as he has attempted the most shots for the reds (23) of which 9 have been on target.
The skilful striker has dribbled his opponents 12 times this season and been accurate with 79% of his passes, whilst also touching the ball in the opposition box 45 times.
Suarez for Liverpool in the PL 2011/12
| Appearances (minutes) | Goals | Assists | Touches opposition box | Passing accuracy | Successful Dribbles |
| 7 (503) | 4 | 0 | 45 | 79.07% | 12 |
Liverpool’s Premier League goal scorers 2011/12.
| Player | Goals | Assists | Shots (including blocked) |
| Suárez, Luis | 4 | 0 | 23 |
| Adam, Charlie | 1 | 2 | 16 |
| Carroll, Andy | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| Henderson, Jordan | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Skrtel, Martin | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Luis Suarez is the only Liverpool player that has scored more than once in the Premier League this season and has attempted the most shots, demonstrating a real hunger and will to score.
Suarez has also won his team 14 free kicks (6 in danger areas) and although not being renowned for his work rate the Uruguayan has won 5 of the 6 tackles he has attempted this season (83.3%).
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
