It’s second versus third in the Premier League this weekend when Manchester United host Tottenham in Saturday’s early kick-off - and all eyes will be on the two super strikers Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane.
The Belgian hasn’t scored for two matches, so will be out to break his short drought, and Kane’s eight goals came despite him not scoring in August.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As with previous seasons, Lukaku and Kane have proved their weight in goals. So the big question on the lips of football fans and pundits is this: which striker is better? Lukaku or Kane?
Ahead of its live coverage of Man Utd vs. Spurs, Sky Sports has compared the two strikers’ league statistics so far this season.
Lukaku vs. Kane: 2017-18 statistics
With both strikers key to their respective side’s success - both on Saturday and in the future - it will be a fascinating duel at Old Trafford.
When picking his Utd-Spurs combined XI, Sky Sports’ Matt Le Tissier says there is one clear choice if he had to decide between the two.
He said: “Harry Kane has to be my striker. Romelu Lukaku has had a cracking start and the two of them are excellent players, but I just think Kane’s form at the moment and over a longer period of time justifies him getting the nod.
“However, I don’t really go with the idea that Lukaku can’t score in big games. For me, it is more about the amount of chances created for him. Their games against Liverpool are a good example, with Kane having seven shots, scoring twice, whereas Lukaku had just the one effort.”
CaughtOffside takes the selection game further by naming both stars in its combined Utd-Spurs XI.
Picking as many stars as possible from both sides, Kane and Lukaku are “obvious shoe-ins” for the CaughtOffside.com team - which lines up in the “slightly shunned” 4-4-2 ‘diamond’ formation.
On Kane, the website says: “Top scorer with eight goals so far this term, it’s Tottenham’s Kane taking one of the two centre-forward spots. Would he be the narrow winner if we limited ourselves to one striker as most teams now play? We couldn’t possibly comment.”
On Lukaku: “And finally, it’s Lukaku taking the second place up front, with the summer signing from Everton narrowly behind Kane in the Golden Boot rankings at the moment, as he was last season when he also finished runner-up.”
How to watch Utd vs. Spurs
Manchester United vs. Spurs kicks off at 12.30pm on Saturday 28 October and is live on Sky Sports.
-
Should you add your child to your credit card?The Explainer You can make them an authorized user on your account in order to help them build credit
-
Cracker Barrel crackup: How the culture wars are upending corporate brandingIn the Spotlight Is it 'woke' to leave nostalgia behind?
-
'It's hard to discern what it actually means'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How do new stadiums affect football clubs?In the Spotlight Everton's decision to move its men's team out of Goodison Park could be a catalyst for vital change, but there are cautionary tales too
-
Liverpool's Anfield redemption: how did they do it?Talking Point Arne Slot's blueprint and standout player performances guide the Reds to record 20th league title
-
Where are all the English football managers?Talking Point Eddie Howe's Carabao Cup success underlines absence of homegrown coaching talent in the Premier League
-
New Trafford: can it fix Manchester United's footballing problems?Talking Point Plan for £2 billion stadium despite staff job losses and lack of success on the pitch
-
Denis Law obituary: fond farewell to 'the King of the Stretford End'In the Spotlight Scottish footballer who was one of Manchester United's 'Holy Trinity' has died aged 84
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten HagTalking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
-
Can England's Euros team hold their nerve?Today's Big Question Three Lions' 'lopsided' opening win over Serbia raises more questions than it answers
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
