We compare Sergio Aguero to Premier League's top strikers
Saturday 9 May 2015 15:28, UK
Ahead of Sunday's Sky Live clash between Manchester City and QPR, we take a closer look at how the hosts' star striker - and Premier League's top scorer - Sergio Aguero compares with the league's other leading frontmen...
Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler exclaiming “Aguerooooo!” as the Argentina ace fired Manchester City to their first-ever Premier League title with a last-gasp winner against QPR back in 2012 can be considered one of the most iconic moments in English top-flight history.
This weekend, the two teams meet at the Etihad once more, though it is the visitors who have more to play for this time around.
The away side need a win or will drop out of England’s top tier and back into the Championship. However, only two teams have achieved that result at City’s home ground this season – and an in-form Sergio Aguero – the Premier League’s top goalscorer, who scored two against QPR earlier this season – will make that task even harder.
Aguero has scored five in his last four, including a superb finish to sink Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, and with 22 to his name this season, now only needs one more goal to match his best return since joining Man City in 2011.
Chelsea may already have won the title, but the explosive frontman remains in the hunt to secure the Golden Boot award for the first time since moving to the two-time Premier League champions.
Aguero is not alone in the quest for the accolade, however. Tottenham’s Harry Kane (20 goals), Chelsea’s Diego Costa (19), QPR’s Charlie Austin (17) and Arsenal’s Alexis Sánchez (16) will all look to run the City star close for the award between now and the end of the season.
The quintet are the only players to have scored at least 15 league goals this term and have a chance - however slim in the case of many, including Costa given his current injury woes - to finish the campaign as the Premier League’s top goalscorer.
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Costa has not featured for Chelsea since suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury in the Blues’ 2-1 win over Stoke last month, which is something of a let off for Aguero in his bid for personal glory. Of the five strikers to score at least 15 league goals the Spaniard boasts the best conversion rate (25.3 per cent).
Of the strikers available, it’s Kane who is expected to push Aguero to the finish line. The Spurs striker’s conversion rate (20.2 per cent) is superior to Aguero’s (16.5), while Sanchez (15.5) and Austin (13.9) are less clinical.
However, there are also plenty of stats in Aguero’s favour. The 26-year-old is averaging more shots per game (4.4) than any other player in the Premier League this season and his statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of ‘finishing’ further accentuates his prowess in front of goal. No player has scored more ‘clear-cut’ chances than Aguero (15).
There’s no question Aguero has been an important player for Man City this season – without his goals City would be 10 points worse off in fifth place, one point behind Liverpool. However, in contrast, Kane has added 21 points to Tottenham’s total, Sanchez 13 to Arsenal’s and Austin 11 to QPR’s.
Aguero’s omission from the PFA Team of the Year has been seen as a surprising oversight. Many felt the Premier League’s top goalscorer warranted a place in the team and a nomination for the Player of the Year award. However, Costa and Kane’s superior conversion rate and Sanchez’s added points impact suggest they deserved their spots in the XI.
That is a minor critique, though, for a striker rightly regarded as one of the world’s best – and QPR will have to be prepared to handle him. Right up until the final kick of the game.
All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings. You can follow all the scores, statistics, live player and team ratings with the new free-to-download WhoScored app
Watch Manchester City v QPR live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Sunday from 12.30pm
