Firmino, Mane & Salah: The best Premier League trio ever?
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Liverpool have been running rings around defences both athome and abroad for the last two seasons. But is their front three the best thePremier League has ever seen?
We’ve delved into the archives and pulled out three morepotent trios that could go toe-to-toe with the Reds’ hotshots.
Firmino, Mane & Salah
Club: Liverpool
Years together: 2017-Present
Trophies won: 2018/19 UEFA Champions League; 2020 FIFAClub World Cup
A Premier League trophy looks set to fill their cabinets, but even so, this boisterous attacking triad have already made a name for themselves in the modern game.
In their first season together the trio banged in 57 Premier League goals in 2017/18 which proved to be a sign of things to come.
Last season they put on a combined 56 goals as the club lost one league game and were only pipped to the title by a single point by Manchester City
And now, in 2019/20 they are 25 points clear at the top of the Premier League – with 38 goals and 20 assists between them.
Lethal.
Henry, Bergkamp, Pires
Club: Arsenal
Years together: 2000-06
Trophies won: Premier League 2001/02, 2003/04; FA Cup 2001/02,2002/03, 2004/05
The Gunners already had Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp atthe club by the time Robert Pires rocked up at the turn of the millennium.
But the trio soon hit it off – alongside the tricky FreddieLjungberg with the now legendary moniker of ‘The Invincibles’ markingthe team’s legacy.
Bergkamp’s guile was complimented by Henry’s clinicalfinishing and Pires’ arrival gave them a mix of sublime steeliness too.
Silverware reined in, including the league and cup doublewin in 2002. But more was to come as the 2003/04 unbeaten league season gavethem the immortality they deserved.
Sane, Aguero, Sterling
Club: Manchester City
Years together: 2016-Present
Trophies won: Community Shield 2018, 2019; Premier League2017/18, 2018/19; FA Cup 2018/19; League Cup 2017/18, 2018/19
With pace to burn and a stone-cold finisher in your side youusually find a way to win games. And Man City have won a helluva a lot of themin the past three seasons.
Sergio Aguero has arguably been the Premier League’sgreatest striker – save Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer perhaps.
Since 2016, Aguero has blasted 72 league goals in three anda bit seasons but now has two flying wingers alongside who have a nose for goaltoo.
Raheem Sterling became more potent, notching 17 and 18league goals in the previous two seasons. And to the other side, Leroy Sane wasa constant menace – with the crucial winner in the victory over Liverpool lastseason.
With Sane looking likely to leave the Etihad soon, it maytake time to appreciate just how good these three were together.
Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez
Club: Manchester United
Years together: 2007-2009
Trophies won: Community Shield 2008; Premier League2007/08, 2008/09; UEFA Champions League 2007/08; League Cup 2008/09; FIFA WorldClub Cup 2008
In an electrifying two seasons together, a front three ofWayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo gave defences up and down thecountry nightmares.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s most successful sides were often builton a water-tight defence and skilful midfielders, but they bucked the trendhere.
Ronaldo was fast becoming the no nonsense bagsman we knownow, and the Rooney-Tevez axis provided the selflessness and swagger.
They bagged an impressive haul of trophies in their brieftime together – and it just leaves you thinking what they could have become hadRonaldo and Tevez stuck around?
All odds andmarkets correct as of date of publication
