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The 2018-19 Premier League season is at its business end and the fight for the title has got much more intense. The race for the title has left everyone guessing as defending champions Manchester City are in the pursuit of lifting the title for a 2nd time in a row, while Liverpool will be hoping to win the title for the first time since 1990.
The Cityzens are at the 2nd position in the table with 89 points while the Reds are at the 1st position with 91 points. Pep Guardiola expressed his disappointment after his side failed to win against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2nd leg of the Champions League quarter-final but Manchester City’s 2-0 win in their Premier League game over Manchester United on 24th April has further boosted the side’s morale.
On the other hand, Jurgen Klopp’s side will be up against Barcelona in the semi-finals after registering an impressive win over FC Porto in the quarter-finals.
It will be interesting to see who finishes in the top 4 as Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are separated by only 4 points. Maurizio Sarri will be hoping to end the season on a positive note.
Watford FC and Wolverhampton FC are the two teams who have surprised everyone with some eye-catching performances and are at the 9th and 7th positions respectively at the moment. Both teams will be aiming for a top 8 finish which would enable them to qualify for next season’s Europa League.
Watford have also made it to the final of the FA Cup which will surely act as a morale booster for Javi Gracia’s side. In addition to this, fans have witnessed some fascinating performances from some of the best forwards in the Premier League this season and as the race for the title gets exciting, the race for the best striker too will get much more intriguing.
Sergio Aguero and Mohamed Salah will surely be amongst the favourites to finish the season as the best goal scorers but there are others too who have made everyone take note of their performances.
We take a look at 5 such strikers who have impressed the most this Premier League season.
#1 Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah had delivered some commanding performances in the last season and has once again been Liverpool’s go-to man in the forward line in the ongoing season. Salah has registered 19 goals in 35 games so far this season with 10 assists to his name.
The 26-year-old has also scored 4 goals in 10 Champions League games this season with 2 assists to his name. The former AS Roma player has been a guiding force for Liverpool in the forward line since his arrival at the club.
His goal against FC Porto in the 2nd leg of their Champions League quarter game was crucial for the Reds which they won with a 4-1 scoreline this month.
Salah has been quite incisive inside the box with his speed and dribbling. His deceptive runs have outclassed the best defenses. The Egyptian has looked quite authoritative with his ability to hold the ball.
The striker has got this unique ability to operate from both sides of the flanks due to which the opponents have found it difficult to track his clever movements. Salah can also be played as an attacking midfielder or as a second striker.
His finishing too has looked absolutely superlative. Salah had expressed his disappointment as he couldn’t take Egypt to the knock-out rounds of last year’s World Cup in Russia. Jurgen Klopp had stated that the Egyptian was eager to prove his worth and will be eager to finish the season on a high.
#2 Sadio Mane
The 27-year-old has infused a lot of fluidity and aggression in this Liverpool outfit. His electric pace combined with his innovative dribbles can breach any strong defense on his day.
Sadio Mane’s presence has upgraded the quality of Liverpool’s forward line as it looks a balanced one. He has got this knack of creating chances for the forward line with his quick movements.
The former Southampton player has been a smooth operator during set pieces. Sadio Mane has also linked up quite well with midfielders like Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner. He has colluded well with the midfielders too.
The Senegal international has been a threat during counter attacks. Sadio Mane has scored 18 goals in 33 games in the ongoing Premier League season and has been involved in 2 assists.
Mane has been a top performer for the side right throughout the season and has not let his intensity down. Mane has upped the level of competitiveness within their team that has pushed his teammates to do well during crunch situations.
The striker has also scored 4 goals in 10 Champions League games this season with 3 assists to his name. Mane scored 2 goals in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in the 2nd leg of their pre-quarter game of the Champions League in March. Mane will be a crucial figure in Liverpool's semi-finals at the Champions League against Barcelona.
Mane played an influential role for Senegal in last year’s World Cup in Russia, taking his side to the knock-out rounds.
#3 Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero has been one of the most consistent performers for Manchester City over the last few years. In the ongoing season too, the Argentine has been an influential figure in his side’s success.
Though there were reports about his possible fallout with Guardiola in the last season, the manager had stated that everything is fine between the two. The 30-year-old has outclassed his opponents with his swift and fast moves.
Aguero’s finishing has also looked spot on. The striker has registered 19 goals in 30 matches in the current Premier League season with 7 assists to his name. The Argentine has also scored 6 goals in 7 Champions League games this season with 1 assist to his name.
Aguero was a vital figure against FC Schalke in the 2nd leg of their pre-quarter game of the Champions League, scoring 2 goals in that game in February.
Aguero has looked equally impressive because of his ability to win aerial duels. Aguero also brings a lot of intensity in the forward line because of his accelerating pace. He has got the ability to change the outcome of any game with his individual brilliance.
Aguero has loads of experience of playing against some of the big clubs of European football which has also helped some of the younger players of the squad to improve their game.
The former Atletico Madrid player has floored his rivals with his ability to position himself inside the box with his inventive moves. His quickness on the field has always caught the opposition’s defense off guard.
#4 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Emerick Aubameyang started his campaign for Arsenal against Everton on 4th February last year, scoring a goal in his team’s 4-1 victory. Since then, Aubameyang has looked in decent form. He has registered 19 goals in 33 games in the 2018-19 season with 5 assists to his name.
He has also registered 4 goals in 9 Europa League games in the current season with 2 assists to his name. He scored 2 goals against French club Rennes FC in the 2nd leg of their pre-quarter game of the Europa League which the Gunners won with a 3-0 scoreline in March.
Aubameyang produced a determined performance in that game. He is considered one of the finest strikers in the Premier League at the moment as the striker has showcased his goal-scoring prowess.
The Gabon international has been a vital link for Arsenal in the forward line. The 29-year-old played a crucial role for Borussia Dortmund, scoring 98 goals in 144 games. The striker has been the core of the forward line and his combination with Alexandre Lacazette has been an important factor for Arsenal.
The former Borussia Dortmund player’s ability to breach the opposition’s defense combined with his ability to keep the ball in possession has been a threat to Arsenal's opponents.
His effortless finishes have been a treat to watch and have always looked immaculate. Aubameyang will definitely be the heart of Arsenal’s forward line in the Europa League semi-finals too.
#5 Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling has been at the top of the game this Premier League season. The 24-year-old has outsmarted the best defenses with his deceptive moves. Sterling has operated well at the flanks and has been a smooth operator during set pieces too.
He has colluded well with midfielders like David Silva, Leroy Sane, and Kevin De Bruyne. Sterling has showcased his class with his elegant finishes and clever passes. He has been Pep Guardiola’s target man right throughout the season during crunch situations.
Sterling has been the glue that binds the forward line and the midfield. The England international has been one of the most influential figures for the Etihad outfit since the last 2-3 seasons.
Sterling has netted 17 goals in 31 Premier League games this season with 12 assists to his name. The striker has scored 5 goals in 10 Champions League games this season with 3 assists to his name.
Raheem Sterling has always been praised for his ability to play wide and for his adaptability. He can play as a winger as well as an attacking midfielder.
Sterling scored 2 goals against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2nd leg of the quarter-final of the Champions League which the Cityzens won with a 4-3 scoreline, but unfortunately, the Cityzens couldn't make it to the semi-finals as the Spurs were through on away goals.
