Lacazette among the strikers to look out for this weekend but in-form Son could be one to avoid

Paul Okey
15 April 2022

Planet Sport picks out seven Premier League forwards to see if their previous records against their next opponents can offer a pointer as to how they will perform this weekend.

Heung-min Son took his tally to 17 on Saturday with a hat-trick in Tottenham's 4-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa and is now a genuine challenger to Mohamed Salah at the top of the goalscoring charts.

However, those expecting him to carry on his rich goalscoring form - six in three - against Brighton may be sorely disappointed if Son's past record against the Seagulls is anything to go by.

Planet Sport looks at Son's previous form against Brighton and six other top-flight strikers in action this weekend to see if we can read anything into past performances.

Heung-min Son (Tottenham)

Home to Brighton, Premier League, Saturday, 12:30 BST

Son's treble against Aston Villa took him to within three of Salah going into the final seven games of the campaign.

It saw his odds of winning the Golden Boot slashed to 6/1.

However, the South Korean has a poor record against Brighton. He scored in his first appearance against them but has failed to scored in eight subsequent games, seven of which have come in the Premier League.

Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Home to Brighton, Premier League, Saturday, 12:30 BST

Spurs team-mate Kane has had to take a backseat recently while Son takes the goalscoring plaudits. However, five assists in his last three games show his value to the team.

The good news for Kane is that while Son struggles against Brighton, he does not find goals so hard to come by.

The England striker has eight in eight in all competitions against the south-coast club, including two in their FA Cup win in February. He has scored five in six in the Premier League, with his record standing at eight in 11 overall.

Perversely, Kane has never provided an assist in those 11 games.

Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal)

Away at Southampton, Premier League, Saturday, 15:00 BST

Arsenal will be looking to get their Champions League challenge back on track against a Southampton side that shipped six last time out and Lacazette will be confident of getting among the goals.

The Frenchman has five goals and three assists in eight Premier League appearances against Saints.

His stats are even better when you dismiss his first three games against Southampton, reading five goals in five, including one in their most recent meeting, a 3-0 win for the Gunners.

Ivan Toney (Brentford)

Away at Watford, Premier League, Saturday 15:00 BST

Twelve goals in 29 appearances mark a very respectable introduction to the Premier League for the Bees striker.

Since his reintroduction to the starting XI in early March, Toney has six goals in five and has an opportunity to continue his rich vein of form when Brentford travel to Watford on Saturday.

Toney has only faced the Hornets twice before, both in the Championship in 2020/21. However, he can also say he has never failed to score against them, netting a goal apiece in the 1-1 draw and 2-0 win.

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

vs Man City, FA Cup semi-final, Saturday, 17:30 BST

Salah went into Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester City having scored seven in his previous ten against the Citizens in all competitions. The Egyptian failed to find the net in the 2-2 draw and has found goals hard to come by recently, netting just one in his last nine in all competitions.

This is not the first time Salah has faced City in the FA Cup, though. He was introduced for Chelsea at half-time in their 2-0 fifth-round loss to the Manchester club in 2014.

Michail Antonio (West Ham)

Home to Burnley, Premier League, Sunday, 14:15 BST

Antonio's barren spell extended to 12 Premier League games at the weekend with the Irons' 2-0 defeat to Brentford.

It is a far cry from his August form which saw the striker net four goals and provide three assists in West Ham's opening three matches.

Nevertheless, Sunday's visit of Burnley provides the striker with an excellent opportunity to get back on the goal trail. The 32-year-old scored three times against the Clarets last season, providing all the goals in 2-1 and 1-0 wins. It took his tally against the Lancashire club to six in 13 in all competitions - the only club Antonio has scored more against is Watford (9).

Christian Benteke

vs Chelsea, FA Cup semi-final, Sunday, 16:30 BST

Benteke has found himself confined to the bench in three of Palace's last six meetings with Chelsea.

Given that the Eagles have lost their last eight encounters with the Blues, there is an argument to start Benteke at the weekend. He has scored three times in six appearances against Chelsea for the Selhurst Park club and was on target in their last win against them, in October 2017.

His overall record against the Blues is seven goals and two assists in 13 appearances, which includes two goals for Villa and two for Liverpool.

A note of caution though, has also received one of his only two red cards against Chelsea.