Manchester United attack has clear advantage over Liverpool FC and Man City

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Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford have all had excellent seasons for United (Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

If Mason Greenwood can find the back of the net three more times during United's Europa League run this month he will propel himself, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial into the record books.

United haven't had three players all score 20 goals in a season since 1964/65, when Dennis Law, David Here and John Connelly were providing the firepower, but if Greenwood - currently on 17 - can edge his way past that marker he will join Rashford and Martial - both on 22 - in surpassing that tally.

Such landmarks don't automatically make this trio United's best in more than 50 years, of course. Their total together this season is 61, a figure comfortably surpassed by Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in 2007/08, for example. And crucially the goals scored by Law, Herd and Connelly and Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez were enough to win titles for United.

So far the goals scored this season by Rashford, Martial and Greenwood have only carried United to third in the top flight, two domestic semi-finals and the brink of the Europa League quarter-finals.

But one thing they do have on their side is age, as will Jadon Sancho if United complete a deal for the Borussia Dortmund winger this summer, as expected. Greenwood is only 18, Sancho has recently turned 20, Rashford is 22 and Martial is 24. Compared to some of the other attacking tridents in Europe United's four into three equation is perhaps the most exciting in Europe.

Barcelona started the era of iconic front threes with their MSN attack of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, but the latter has long since departed to Paris Saint-Germain, while Messi and Suarez are both 33. Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are an exciting duo for PSG, but they lack a third member and any semblance of competition in France.

What Barcelona have Real Madrid must try and copy but their BBC version of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo never quite hit the same heights, despite their Champions League successes. Bale is barely glimpsed on the pitch these days, Benzema has had a fine season as the sole leader of Real's attack this season, while Ronaldo is with Juventus in Serie A, who don't have a trident of attackers to go with his endless brilliance.


Liverpool's front three are probably the world's best at the moment, but Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are all 28. They are probably at their peak, the question is how long they can stay there before a gradual decline begins.

Chelsea are attempting to build their own exciting attack and have a supreme talent in Christian Pulisic, as well as fascinating new arrivals in Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and, potentially, Kai Havertz, but it's an attack witnessed on paper only so far. At Manchester City Raheem Sterling is evidently world-class, but last season they lacked a regular front three and there is uncertainty over how long Sergio Aguero can go on for.


The reality is no trio of forwards at the top of the game in Europe can match the age profile and impact of United's trio. Add in Sancho, with 33 goal contributions in 32 Bundesliga games this season, and United would have a set of four forwards who are all yet to reach their peak but have already shown exceptional promise.

If their trajectory continues as expected then it should only be a matter of time before United have one of the best front threes in world football, with a world-class reserve as well, and figures of 61 goals in a season could soon be dwarfed.

Goals win titles now, as long as your defence isn't a complete disaster, and there should be plenty to come from United's attackers over the next few years. It's not inconceivable that Rashford, Greenwood and Sancho could all be competing for places in England's front three at Euro 2020 next summer, with the competition for attacking slots in the national team just as competitive.

The challenge for United's young attackers is to build on what they've achieved this season, while Sancho will have to show his numbers in the Bundesliga can translate to the Premier League, but there is no reason why that shouldn't happen and it will certainly be exciting to watch.


Man U





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