By Toby Prince
Have we just witnessed two, three or maybe four defining moments in the Premier League this season? We’re not just talking about Manchester United overhauling City to the top, or Chelsea stuttering again to give Jose Mourinho jitters.
Form they say is temporal, while class is permanent. Our focus is on four players who finally returned to goalscoring form for their respective clubs in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.
- Wayne Rooney – (Manchester United 3-0 Sunderland)
Manchester United moved to the summit of the Premier League for the first time since May 2013 after thrashing Sunderland 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney, who struck for the first time since April 4, ended a 12-game barren spell, 999 minutes and a near-six month drought.
The England captain doubled United’s lead on the day when an Anthony Martial cross made contact with his knee before striking it pass Sunderland goalie, Costel Pantilimon
“That’s what we’re all playing for,” Rooney said afterwards of United’s return to the top. “We have to work hard to make sure we stay there.”
He now has five goals in his last five games, and is captain of the league leaders. Not bad for an out-of-form front man.
- Harry Kane (Tottenham 4-1 Man City)
Harry Kane, Rooney’s England strike partner, has also struggled for goals this term. Before the weekend, the man who netted 21 times in the Premier League last time out had yet to beat a Premier League goalkeeper in 2015/16.
That unwanted record was vanquished on Saturday when he netted his team’s third in their superb 4-1 thrashing of Manchester City at White Hart Lane.
Though Kane, 22, appeared to be marginally offside, he deserves credit for reacting quickest to guide the ball past Willy Caballero after Christian Eriksen’s free kick smacked against the woodwork.
The Englishman endured 640 minutes without a goal and boss Mauricio Pochettino could not be more delighted or relieved. “I think it was important for Harry to score because it takes the pressure off and he will be more comfortable from now on.”
- Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal 5-2 Leicester City)
The most emphatic response, though, came from Alexis Sanchez, who took home the match ball after scoring three times in Arsenal’s 5-2 triumph over Leicester City.
Since the Chilean tends to be deployed out wide rather than as a centre-forward, goals should not be the principal measure of his contribution to the team.
Nevertheless, with Sanchez scoring on 16 occasions in the Premier League in 2014/15, a run without one at the start of the current campaign was cause for concern. The former Barcelona player’s treble, which included a terrific long-range effort late on, saw him announce his return to form in spectacular style.
Sanchez, who had failed to score in 873 minutes bounced back to his brilliant best, prompting Arsene Wenger to say: “Is he world class? I think so. He is now back to his level.
“He won the Copa America with Chile and when you come back from a tournament like that it takes time. But we could see him getting stronger during the week in training, and he delivered.”
- Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool 3-2 Aston Villa)
Great news for Liverpool as Daniel Sturridge finally overcame his injury nightmare to score a brace against Aston villa on Saturday.
Much to the delight of Reds boss Brendan Rodgers who said after the 3-2 win over Villa which eases the pressure somewhat: “Daniel was outstanding. We missed Sturridge for over a year – he makes the difference and helps you compete. His finishes were exceptional, but he’s not at his level of fitness yet. His two goals were the difference.”
