Why Liverpool and Manchester United stars should team up for England

Castrol data shows that Liverpool’s £35 million striker Andy Carroll deserves his place alongside Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney in Fabio Capello’s England attack, netting an impressive 11 Premier League goals in 1,712 minutes of action this season.

While Rooney’s place in the Three Lions’ first 11 is set in stone under Capello, the second striking berth has yet to be claimed on a permanent basis. However, Carroll’s strike rate of a goal every 156 minutes in the league this season and a total of three assists, are both superior figures to those of his fellow England hopefuls.

Aston Villa’s Darren Bent comes closest to matching Carroll’s figures, and the striker has hit two goals in his last two appearances for England. However, the Liverpool man’s physical presence, along with his goals, makes him an ideal foil for the more creative Rooney.

English Strikers In Premier League 2010/11

Prem Lge 10/11 Darren  Bent Defoe Andy Carroll Carlton Cole
Team Sunderland/ A Villa Tottenham Newcastle/ Liverpool West Ham
Minutes On Pitch 2,429 1,072 1,712 1,703
Goals 11 2 11 5
Mins per goal 221 536 156 341
Shots 63 37 64 53
Shooting Accuracy 48% 51% 45% 51%
Chance Conversion 17% 5% 17% 9%
Goal Assists 1 2 3 1

Also See: Wales v England Preview.

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