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Ranking the top five Premier League attacks: Which club is king?

By Tom Bogert

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - APRIL 30: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides first goal from the penalty spot with Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Manchester City at the Riverside Stadium on April 30, 2017 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - APRIL 30: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides first goal from the penalty spot with Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Manchester City at the Riverside Stadium on April 30, 2017 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) /
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates scoring his sides first goal with Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Watford at Anfield on November 6, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates scoring his sides first goal with Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Watford at Anfield on November 6, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /

2. Liverpool /// 2016/17 goals for: 78 /// 2016/17 top scorer: Philippe Coutinho (13)

2017/18 likely top scorer: Sadio Mane /// 2017/18 Key player: Philippe Coutinho

Last year, Liverpool had eight players (!!) score more five or more goals. No other club more evenly distributed the goals. Coutinho and Mane each had 13, while each were unable to make more than 28 starts because of injury, and Roberto Firmino notched 11.

Daniel Sturridge wasn’t one of the Reds who had five goals in the league, either, who figures to do at least that if he stays injury free. But, finally, last year Liverpool weren’t sitting around hoping Sturridge would stay fit and they absolutely blitzed opponents under Jurgen Klopp’s high-octane pressing.

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Liverpool are intent to drop Coutinho to the midfield and signed Mohamed Salah this summer, who scored 15 goals last year from the wing at Roma. Their likely first choice XI includes Salah, Mane, Firmino, Coutinho and Gini Wijnaldum while Adam Lallana is injured. Any one of those five could hit a brace on any day.

Their only issue last year was their failure to break teams down when opponents sat deep, refused to leave any space behind for Liverpool to play into and didn’t try to play out of the back, becoming prey for the press.

This season, Coutinho in the midfield will help that problem. No one at the club picks a pass better. When he’d drift infield from the left wing to grab the ball, the team became unbalanced. Now he’ll look up and have Firmino, Salah and Mane to choose from.

Granted, Liverpool may still concede two goals a game but they’ll make for one hell of an entertaining watch.

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