Author: Joe Soriano

Liverpool have the best player in the Premier League and one of the best forwards in world football in Mohamed Salah, and left winger Luis Diaz has quickly rejoined him as a world-class attacker after the appointment of Arne Slot. With Cody Gakpo adding legitimately world-class play up front, too, Liverpool have three wide forwards who can score goals, create chances, and win entire games on their own when they are at their best. But Liverpool are still uncertain about the man in the middle. They have two quality options in Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, and if you combined their strengths, you'd end up with the best striker on the planet. Alone, Nunez and Jota have flaws. Jota is a great finisher who lacks in one-on-ones, while Nunez is a maven at creating chances for himself but c...

Everyone knew Arsenal needed to sign a new striker last summer in order to finally get over the championship hump in the Premier League, but apparently the Gunners themselves were the only ones who didn't get the memo. And now without a reliable goal-scorer through the middle to support Bukayo Saka's Premier League Player of the Season-caliber efforts, Arsenal have slipped even further in the title race despite a season-ending injury to Manchester City's Ballon d'Or winner Rodri. Instead, Liverpool have stepped up to fill the void, while Arsenal watch as Kai Havertz regresses to the mean after a fool's gold hot streak of goals. Erling Haaland's record-breaking scoring exploits have long been the difference between Man City and Arsenal in the title race, and yet Arsenal remained compl...

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has fared better in his second season at the club, going from a lost soul in his first Premier League season to a man who is legitimately one of the better No. 9's in the Premiership. Jackson, thus far, has scored 6 goals with 3 assists in 10 Premier League appearances, putting him on pace for well over 30 total goal contributions over the course of the 2024/25 season. Since Christopher Nkunku profiles better as a second striker or attacking midfielder, Jackson is the only true No. 9 at Stamford Bridge, and while he has been performing well for a resurgent Chelsea side who are definitely in the mix for Champions League football again, many supporters would still like to see Todd Boehly bring in another striker. As Viktor Gyokeres gains more momentum...

Tottenham have unearthed two of the Premier League's best breakout midfielders of the season, with Dejan Kulusevski surprisingly thriving in an innovative role concocted by Ange Postecoglou as a ball-carrying midfielder. The former Juventus right winger has become an incredible No. 8, playing more as a Mezzala in the Premier League than he ever did in Italy while at three different historic clubs. Alongside him, Pape Sarr is emerging as a top young midfielder, having just bossed top-four rivals Aston Villa in a 4-1 drubbing of Unai Emery's men. Sarr was the best player on the pitch, making top stars Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans look almost amateurish in comparison. Tottenham, though, are still one top midfielder away from having a truly great trio in the Premier League, and ba...

Arsenal knew going into the summer 2024 transfer window that their biggest need, by far, was at the No. 9 position. For years, Arsenal have struggled to find a consistent goal-scoring striker ever since the abrupt decline of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Gabriel Jesus has been a great all-around forward, and Kai Havertz offers similar benefits as a center forward. But neither can reliably put away their chances, and juxtaposed with Manchester City's record-breaking striker Erling Haaland, the difference becomes decisive in a tight Premier League title race Arsenal fans had faith that their club would address this most pressing need, but, instead, they waffled, with their only attacking signing being the addition of declining Premier League veteran Raheem Sterling. RB Leipzig star Ben...

Manchester United have such a puzzle at the left back position, which has been complicated further by a constant revolving door of injuries to Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw, who have been out for months. In their steads, Manchester United have actually been better at left back by starting inverted right backs Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui, who have proven to be two of the best fullbacks in the world. Dalot was the established option at right back but shifted to the left after Shaw's injury and the signing of Mazraoui, shining on the left side. Then, it was Mazraoui's turn to do the same in a recent Premier League encounter against Chelsea. In the long term, Manchester United will probably want to sign a more reliable true left back, someone who is world-class and can get forwar...

Aston Villa backup striker Jhon Duran would be a qualified starter on the majority of Premier League sides, but with 2023/24 Premier League Player of the Season candidate Ollie Watkins still firing on all cylinders, the Colombian has to settle for being one of the world's finest backups. Duran was mired in a transfer saga this past summer, but Aston Villa ultimately stuck to their guns and didn't sell him to Premier League counterparts West Ham, Chelsea, or anyone else for that matter. This season, Duran is off to a torrid start as arguably the biggest breakout striker in world football, scoring 4 league goals in 263 minutes for a whopping 1.37 goals per 90 minutes. Aston Villa are very much in the thick of the Champions League race despite a poor recent run of results, including ...