The 2023-24 season in the Premier League has just started, with both Manchester City and Arsenal notching up wins. Chelsea and Liverpool played out a highly entertaining draw, while Manchester United started their campaign in a winning note against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Premier League is a highly competitive league and, as a result, there will be a lot of players who can make their mark for their respective teams. Here are three forwards who should be influential in their team’s success this season.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Haaland has already begun the season wonderfully by scoring a brace in City’s 3-0 win over Burnley. The 23-year-old Norwegian had a 50-plus goals season last time around, and if he can go anywhere near that tally, he might have ensured his second successive Golden Boot in the Premier League.
Haaland has all the ingredients of a top striker. He is very quick for his size, has good control inside the penalty box, is a top-class finisher, and is very strong in the air. In addition to that, he has Manchester City’s much-vaunted supply-line behind him. Hence, Pep Guardiola will once again look up to his gifted striker to extend his team’s unprecedented dominance in the Premier League.
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Rashford had his best ever season in 2022-23, when he scored 30 goals in all competitions for Manchester United. Had it not been for an injury he suffered during the latter part of the season, his tally could have gone further up.
Rashford is likely to play the majority of the season as a left winger, with Rasmus Hojlund as the No. 9 in front of him. His combination with Hojlund is going to be key to United’s success this season. In the match against Wolves though, he played as the No.9 and combined creditably with Antony on the right flank.
However, Rashford’s ability to exploit space inside the opposition half by cutting in from the left flank will continue to be an asset for United. If Erik ten Hag’s team is to seriously challenge for the title this season, Rashford will have to be in his elements. The 25-year-old English striker will probably be the most important player in Manchester United’s set-up for the second season running.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Salah has probably been the most consistent attacking player in the league along with Kevin de Bruyne for the last few years. His ability to dribble past the opposition defenders through the inside-right channel will remain a source of worry for Liverpool’s opponents.
The fact that Salah usually takes the penalties for Liverpool, also means that he can be trusted to a few extra goals every season.
However, the Egyptian is already 31 and Jürgen Klopp will need to use him judiciously from now on. As a result, he might not play all the matches. However, he will still be one of the favourites to win the prize for at least a couple of more seasons.
He had a decent match against Chelsea and also managed to put the ball into the net once – albeit from an offside position. He registered a wonderful assist by threading an inch-perfect pass through a number of Chelsea defenders to Luis Diaz. Those are ominous signs for Liverpool’s upcoming opponents.