Man Utd vs Liverpool: Can Zirkzee or Hojlund be the 20-Goal Striker United Needs?

Manchester United's Struggle for a 20-Goal Scorer in the Premier League

In recent years, one of the major concerns for Manchester United has been the search for a player capable of scoring 20 or more goals in a Premier League season. Remarkably, the last player to achieve this milestone for United was Robin van Persie during the 2012/13 season, where he netted 26 goals, contributing significantly to United's last league title victory. Since then, the quest for a prolific scorer has become a pressing issue.

The Competition: Other Teams with 20-Goal Scorers

Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, a total of 10 teams have had players score 20 or more goals in a single Premier League season. Leading the pack is Manchester City, with four players reaching the mark: Sergio Agüero (five times), Erling Haaland (twice), Yaya Touré, and Raheem Sterling. Liverpool, who Manchester United will face live on Sky Sports at 4 PM on Sunday, also boasts four different players who have achieved this feat over the past 11 seasons, including Mohamed Salah (four times), Sadio Mané, Daniel Sturridge, and Luis Suárez.

List of Clubs with 20+ Premier League Goals Since 2013/14

• Manchester City - Agüero, Haaland, Touré, Sterling
• Liverpool - Salah, Mané, Sturridge, Suárez
• Others include Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Leicester City.

Why the Hiring of Ruud van Nistelrooy Matters

The appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy as Erik ten Hag's assistant this summer was made with the intent to address the glaring absence of a consistent goal scorer. Van Nistelrooy himself was known for his scoring prowess, hitting 20+ goals in each of his injury-free Premier League seasons from 2001/02 to 2005/06. The statistics reflect Manchester United's current struggles; the highest number of league goals scored by a United player in a season since Van Persie's tally is just 18 goals, achieved by Bruno Fernandes in the 2020/21 season and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2021/22 season. Last season's top scorers, Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund, managed only 10 goals each, marking the lowest scoring output for a United top scorer in half a century.

Historical Performance of Goal Scorers at Manchester United

In the club's long history in the Premier League, there have been only 10 instances where a player scored 20 or more league goals in a season. Remarkably, Van Nistelrooy was responsible for 40% of these occasions. Other notable players include Wayne Rooney (twice), Van Persie, Dwight Yorke, Dimitar Berbatov, and Ronaldo.

Man United's Goalscoring Statistics

Last season, Manchester United scored a total of 57 goals in the Premier League, a figure that stood out for its rarity. It was only the second time in their Premier League history they had scored fewer, equating the goals with Crystal Palace and just five ahead of relegated Luton. Comparatively, this total fell significantly short of Manchester City's total of 96 goals and Arsenal's total of 91 goals.

A New Hope: Young Talent in the Squad

To mitigate the scoring issues, Manchester United brought in Joshua Zirkzee, a 23-year-old Dutch forward signed from Bologna for £36.5M in July. Zirkzee made an impressive debut, scoring a goal just 26 minutes into the match against Fulham. Last season, he showcased his scoring capabilities by becoming Bologna’s top scorer with 11 Serie A goals while also being recognized as Serie A's best young player.

Comparison with Rasmus Hojlund

One of Zirkzee's notable characteristics is his desire to be involved in the game, averaging 49.5 touches per 90 minutes in Serie A, the highest among recognized centre-forwards. In contrast, Hojlund averaged only 28 touches per game in the Premier League last season. Zirkzee also led with an average of 4.3 dribbles per 90 minutes, signifying his active contribution to play.

Looking Ahead: Clash Against Liverpool

As Manchester United prepares to face Liverpool this weekend, there is hope that Marcus Rashford, who has scored seven goals in his last nine appearances against Liverpool at Old Trafford, can lead the line for United. Will he step up and inspire the team with much-needed goals against a fierce rival?