A weekend for breaking ducks for Premier League forwards

Gameweek 7 in the Premier League saw a season high 41 goals shipped across the three days of action, with just two teams managing to keep clean sheets. It was certainly a good weekend for strikers, as four of the league’s best forwards finally opened their accounts for the season.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney finally put an end to his longest ever goal drought in the Premier League, although his finish in a 3-0 win over Sunderland was rather fortuitous than a craft of his brilliance.

The 29-year-old had drawn a blank in his previous 12 league matches before United entertained the worst team in the division on Saturday. However, the hoodoo is now off Rooney’s back after he managed to bundle the ball over the line courtesy of good work from Anthony Martial. His WhoScored rating of 7.9 was the highest he has garnered in the league since his last goal back in April (8.32).

Elsewhere, there was also a huge return to form for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez. Prior to gameweek 7, no player had taken more shots without scoring than the former Barcelona striker (31). However, the Chile international firmly ended his woes in front of goal with an explosive hat trick in a 5-2 win away to Leicester City to earn him this weekends highest rating in the league (10).

England international Harry Kane was another that secured his first league goal of the season in a surprise 4-1 thumping over Manchester City in the weekend’s opening fixture. The 22-year-old is looking to prove people he isn’t a one-season wonder following his exploits in the Premier League last season, which saw only Sergio Aguero (26) score more goals than Kane (21).

In fact, it was a good weekend for Roy Hodgson as Daniel Sturridge completed a trio of England strikers to open their accounts in the league this season. The Liverpool striker has struggled for injuries over the last two years and his return to the pitch was a welcomed bonus for an under fire Brendan Rodgers. The 26-year-old wasn’t at his very best, but he took both of his goals exceptionally well to hand Liverpool their first win in seven matches in all competitions.

For more stats on this weekend’s action, click here to visit the Premier League’s WhoScored page