In this week's Friday 5iver, Desh Parthab highlights Cristiano Ronaldo's barren spell, Son's hot home streak, Mahrez' purple patch and more!
The results from the midweek round of fixtures had greater repercussions on the relegation-threatened clubs rather than those in the top half of the log.
Roy Hodgson oversaw Watford’s first clean sheet of the season, however, the Hornets have failed to find the back of the net in his 2 league fixtures in charge of them – perhaps its 3rd time lucky?
Antonio Conte was handed his first home league defeat of the season by a Southampton team who conjured up 23 shots across the 90 minutes. Frank Lampard had an Everton league managerial debut to forget as his side went down 3-1 to firmly put them in the relegation battle.
With the midweek fixtures well and truly over, I picked out 5 players who could make the headlines come Monday morning.
🧐 Here the full picture after Matchweek 24 pic.twitter.com/Cry2ZeGPGD
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 10, 2022
Hammer Time
Two of the current top three players leading the charts for Premier League goal involvements ply their trade for West Ham. The London club have scored 42 league goals this season after 24 league fixtures – their highest tally this century (after the same number of games played).
There have been some really consistent performers for the Hammers this season, but none more so than Jarrod Bowen who comes into this round of fixtures with 5 goals in his previous 5 appearances (across all competitions).
Only Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season than West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen 🙌 pic.twitter.com/E8EmLFVNPv
— GOAL (@goal) February 9, 2022
Ronaldo – Gone fishing?
Cristiano Ronaldo has now gone 5 games (across all competitions) without a goal! Manchester United are at home over the next two league fixtures so you have to think this is where he will break his duck – but their home form is sporadic to say the least.
Upon a closer look at their performances at Old Trafford, you will see that United have failed to score in four different home league fixtures this season. Furthermore, the Red Devils have scored a shameful 7 goals in their previous 5 league fixtures, so you have to wonder if this drought is here to stay.
Cristiano Ronaldo has now gone five games without scoring a goal.
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 8, 2022
His longest drought since 2010 🤯 pic.twitter.com/uNofcwIVFr
AFCON woes
Mo Salah has the perfect opportunity to put his AFCON silver medal behind him. The Liverpool hitman is away to Burnley this weekend and is expected to add another nail in their coffin.
The Reds have scored 33 league goals on the road – that’s at least 10 more than any other top-flight club.
Even though Salah was away on international duty and benched for their midweek fixture upon his return, he still has at least 10 more goal involvements than any player in the league and could open up some daylight in the race for the golden boot in weeks to come.
Premier League Golden Boot race:
— GOAL (@goal) February 10, 2022
1️⃣ Mohamed Salah - 16
2️⃣ Diogo Jota - 11
🔴 pic.twitter.com/UXzrWu8hHA
Son’s home hot streak
Son will be looking to extend his prolific form at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when they welcome Wolves this weekend. The attacker has scored in 5 consecutive home league fixtures, but comes up against one of the meanest defences on the road.
Wolves have conceded just eight away league goals this season – no top-flight club has conceded fewer. Spurs come into this one on the back of two consecutive league defeats, so Conte will demand nothing but the 3 points in this one.
Son Heung-Min has scored 12 goals in 15 games against Southampton.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 9, 2022
His favourite opposition. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3E7ZSLWG3q
Mahrez in seventh heaven
Riyad Mahrez has found the back of the net in 7 consecutive appearances for Manchester City F.C. (across all competitions). Furthermore, the wide man has contributed 4 assists during that period which brings his total goal involvements to 12 (G8 A4) in his previous 7 appearances. The Citizens are away this weekend and have only experienced 1 league defeat on the road.
Riyad Mahrez has eight goals and four assists in his last seven games for Man City ♨️ pic.twitter.com/sBxbXIAIra
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 9, 2022
