Friday, November 8, 2024

With Haaland and Nunez arriving in the Premier League – Just how stacked are Man City’s & Liverpool’s attacking options ahead of the 2022/23 campaign?

Tom Dunstan in Editorial, English Premier League 24 Jun 2022

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Eventually managing to hold off Liverpool by a single point as they reclaimed their Premier League crown last season, Manchester City will be desperate to defend their title in the 2022/23 campaign.

However, with both of the top-flight giants already welcoming their own new attacking icons to England, many are expecting another title chase for the ages.

With Liverpool breaking the bank as they snapped up Benfica’s Darwin Nunez in a deal that could be worth up to €100million, the 23-year-old isn’t the only superstar striker that will be torturing Premier League defences next season.

In what was an announcement that certainly sent shockwaves across the footballing globe, Manchester City added a certain Erling Haaland to their ranks after triggering the 21-year-old’s £51.5million release clause.

With both sides boasting a host of attacking icons and already adding to their stacked ranks this summer, we have taken a look at how the Premier League’s top-two could look in the final third next season.

Manchester City

Managing to mount that stunning comeback against Aston Villa on the final weekend as they stormed their way to a famous 3-2 win at the Etihad, Manchester City have certainly underlined their status as one of the Premier League’s greatest sides.

Now lifting four domestic crowns over the past five seasons, there is no doubt that the arrival of Haaland would have certainly fired a real message of intent over to Anfield.

Making it clear that they’re not just going to laying on their morals this summer, the Norweigan superstar has only cemented his place as one of the best number nines from across the globe.

With it looking like the duo of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling could be on their way out of the Etihad, Guardiola has made it no secret that he is looking to bring in an out-and-out striker.

With Kevin De Bruyne once again spearheading City’s title charge and finishing second in last season’s PFA Player of the Year award, Haaland should be relishing the chance to play in alongside the Belgian talisman.

Enjoying what has been nothing short of a sensational spell since making the move to Borussia Dortmund in 2019, the 21-year-old racked up 86 goals in 89 games for the German outfit.

Likewise, while Haaland might undoubtedly stand as City’s focal point after putting pen to paper on a five-year deal in Manchester, Riyad Mahrez’s role next season shouldn’t be understated.

Expected to be Guardiola’s number one option on the wing if Sterling is to make the move away this summer, the Algerian ace claimed City’s Golden Boot last month after bagging 24 goals across all competitions.

With England international Phil Foden also claiming the PFA Young Player of the Year award, Guardiola will be desperate for record-signing Jack Grealish to find his feet at the Etihad.

Despite joining the Sky Blues in what was a blockbuster £100million move from Aston Villa last year, the 26-year-old could only manage three Premier League goals during his first season in Manchester.

Liverpool

While it might be looking increasingly likely that Jesus and Sterling could be on the move this summer, Liverpool have already waved goodbye to one of their most iconic attacking stars.

With it announced earlier in the week that Sadio Mane has made the move to German giants Bayern Munich on a three-year deal, Jurgen Klopp’s men have lost a real superstar option.

Becoming a modern-day hero for the Reds after bagging 120 goals in 269 appearances for Liverpool, fans around Merseyside will be hoping that their new arrival can really fill that void in the final third.

Only continuing to gain a string of plaudits from across Europe after really bursting onto the scene last season, Nunez has quickly become one of the most sort after attacking options in world football.

Along with impressing against Klopp’s side while on Champions League duties with Benfica, the 22-year-old scored 34 times in 41 appearances for the Portuguese heavyweights during the 2021/22 campaign.

Becoming the club’s record-signing after signing a six-year deal, many fans around Anfield will be hoping that Nunez can strike an immediate partnership with reigning PFA Player of the Year, Mohamed Salah.

Although the one-time Chelsea starlet might have failed to claim another Golden Boot last season, Liverpool’s attacking talisman has only continued to break a string of records during his remarkable rise at the club.

However, with constant speculation regarding Salah’s future as Liverpool’s MVP stalls on signing a new deal, it has been suspected that plenty of the burden could fall on Luis Diaz’s shoulders next season.

Managing to often displace Diogo Jota – another Reds star who has continued to shine since arriving on Merseyside – the former Porto ace has enjoyed a stellar start to life in the Premier League.

While the Colombia international might have failed to drag his new side to either a European or domestic crown last season, the 25-year-old appears to have been a perfect addition to Klopp’s system.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Dunstan


Formerly of The Independent, Tom has spent the past six years as one of our senior writers and betting experts. Alongside working with numerous publications from across the globe, Tom also graduated from the University of Falmouth in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Media.
Spending almost the past decade working in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, he has also spent time featuring in sports radio. Tom can be followed on Instagram - @iamtomdunstan

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