English PL: Africans who scored in round three

Aug 28, 2017

Senegal's Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah of Egypt are both on target for Liverpool against Arsenal while Ghanaian Jordan Ayew hits the winner for Swansea versus Crystal Palace.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE | AFRICAN CONNECTION

Three rounds, thirty games and 73 goals so far. Yet the 2017/18 English Premier League is only getting started.

To spring you slightly back to the very start, you ought to note that the opening round of this new campaign treated EPL fans across the globe to a sumptuous galore of 31 goals. Now that was a great way to start a season!

So far, that's the largest goal haul this term.

It was a bit tighter in round two, however, with the goal bank manager only signing off 22 goals across the ten games.

But strikers' scoring boots need even more polish as the goals are beginning to come at a premium. The latest package, round three, has had only 20 goals tucked home. Of this, three were netted by 25-year-old Africans in two separate games: Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) and Jordan Ayew (Swansea).

Let me take you through it . . .

 

Liverpool's Senegalese winger Sadio Mane has been in blistering scoring form.

Ahead of their Sunday's home tie against Arsenal, he had scored in The Reds' first two games: First, in their 3-3 away draw against Watford, and then the only goal of the game against Crystal Palace.

 

 

 

On Matchday, the 25-year-old attacker, who began his career with Metz in France, once again hit the bull's eye, curling home to give Liverpool a two-goal cushion against Arsenal in the 40th minute.

Make that three goals in as many successive games for the young man whose arrival at Anfield from Southampton last year came at a cost of £34m.

Liverpool would go on to hit four past The Gunners with no reply.

 

 

 

For all of you Liverpool fans enjoying a glorious Monday after (ofcourse) Sunday's thumping of Arsenal, here are some stats to digest . . .

One, Sadio Mane is only the third player to score in the first three English Premier League games of a season for Liverpool. The others are Robbie Fowler (in 1994-95) and Daniel Sturridge (in 2013-14).

Secondly, the Senegal man has netted in all three of his EPL appearances for Liverpool against Arsenal.

Now how about that!

 

 

 

Don't shift the location gear yet. Still at Anfield . . .

Another African player who has underlined his impact in Jurgen Klopp's side is Egyptian Mohamed Salah.

Mane's agemate and teammate scored too against Watford in a thrilling season's opener at Vicarage Road.

 

 

 

And it seem Salah's magic number is turning out to be 57.

Against Watford, the winger struck home in the 57th minute. And against a lethargic Arsenal side on Sunday, the Egyptian again scored in the 57th minute.

To emphasize the coincidence, both goals were Liverpool's third for the respective days.

Next game, monitor your watches, Liverpool fans. A goal by Salah could be at its boiling point some 11 minutes into the second half.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, the day before, on Saturday, another African player was rattling the opposite net.

Another 25-year-old.

Ghanaian Jordan Ayew helped Swansea to a first win of the season against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

 

 

 

Ayew, who turns 26 on September 11 (which is exactly two weeks away), pounced four minutes after Tammy Abraham had given the visitors the lead in the 44th minute.

The match ended 2-0 to lift Paul Clement side's up to 9th place on four points.

So well, that's just about it. Will round four see more African representation on the scorelines? There is plenty of English Premier League action coming up.

But first, the international break.

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Follow Joseph on Twitter @joekizza

 

 

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