5 deadliest striker duos in Manchester United history

#2 Dennis Violet and Tommy Taylor

Tommy Taylor (L)

The foundation of one of the greatest strike partnerships in the history of the game was forged in 1953 when Tommy Taylor joined Manchester United from Barnsley. By then, a young Dennis Violet had forced his way from the academy into the first team and was already raising eyebrows with his ability to score goals.

Violet built a wonderful understanding with Taylor and the two of them complemented each other brilliantly on the field. The former’s speed, combined with the latter’s aerial prowess gave opposition nightmares and the two spearheaded the emergence of the Busby Babes.

Taylor was one of the finest strikers to have graced the beautiful game and went from strength to strength as the years progressed. Violet was no spectator either and he ensured that the two of them pushed each other towards excellence. With them heading the attack, Manchester United powered to the 1955/56 as well as the 1956/57 league title and also won the Charity Shield on both occasions.

The Busby Babes were already sending shockwaves across the country when the Violet-Taylor partnership begun to make their mark in Europe. United were on the rise and much was expected of the strike partnership, which was slowly transforming into one of the most feared in Europe. Sadly, life came to a standstill all of a sudden, as Taylor lost his life in the infamous Munich disaster in 1958. By then, he had managed 131 goals from 191 appearances.

Violet was one of the survivors of the crash and did recover to continue his goal-scoring antics in the coming years, eventually leaving the Red Devils in 1962, with 179 goals from 293 appearances. Yet, it is terrifying to imagine how much more United would have achieved had the Violet-Taylor partnership lasted for more than 5 years.