Sunderland may have earned themselves a glimmer of hope with an unexpected win against Bournemouth last weekend but David Moyes’ boys still face one heck of a fight to avoid relegation this season.
Indeed, the Black Cats have claimed just five points from their first eleven games and conceded a staggering 21 goals in the process – the joint-second most of any side in the Premier League after equally relegation-threatened Hull City.
And Sunderland’s disturbing defensive displays have cooked up some food for thought here at FootballFanCast towers, particularly in regards to those Premier League stars, past and present, with the most potent returns against the Wearsiders.
Assisted by our chums at Transfermarkt, here’s a rundown of the ten strikers with the best scoring records versus Sunderland.
Some familiar names amongst Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United fans all feature – but there’s a fair few surprises along the way as well.
10. Wayne Rooney – 17 Apps, Seven Goals, Five Assists
Wayne Rooney kicks off our top ten. No doubt, however, longevity’s the biggest factor behind the Manchester United skipper’s presence, making the most appearances against Sunderland of anyone on this list.
9. Shola Ameobi – 16 Apps, Seven Goals, Three Assists
The player Sunderland fans will be most disappointed to see on this list, Newcastle United favourite Shola Ameobi has helped provide ten goals in 16 outings for the Black Cats’ bitter rivals. In fact, his seven strikes represent a career-best return against a single club.
8. Nicolas Anelka – 11 Apps, Seven Goals, Three Assists
Despite a lengthy Premier League career, all of Nicolas Anelka’s goals versus Sunderland came for just one club – Chelsea. Indeed, the Frenchman failed to get on the scoresheet during spells with Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and West Brom, but netted seven in seven appearances for the Blues.
7. Thierry Henry – 11 Apps, Seven Goals, Five Assists
One of the greatest forwards in Premier League history, few will be surprised to see Thierry Henry claim a place in the top ten. He even scored against Sunderland during his brief second spell at Arsenal during the 2011/12 season, bringing his total to seven strikes and five set-ups from 16 outings.
6. Romelu Lukaku – Nine Apps, Seven Goals, Three Assists
Romelu Lukaku may still be in the early stages of what looks set to become a glistening career, but he’s already bagged seven goals in just nine outings against the Black Cats. That includes a hat-trick for Everton at the Stadium of Light earlier this season.
5. Christian Benteke – Eight Apps, Seven Goals, One Assist
From one Belgian battering ram to another, Christian Benteke betters Lukaku’s return against Sunderland by one appearance. His first three came in the form of a hat-trick for Aston Villa during his debut Premier League campaign, followed by goals for Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
4. Luis Suarez – Seven Apps, Seven Goals, One Assist
One of the Premier League’s greatest ever goal machines, Luis Suarez boasts seven goals in as many appearances versus the Wearside outfit. Incredibly, there were only two outings against Sunderland in which he didn’t score, also grabbing back-to-back braces in 2013.
3. Tim Cahill – 16 Apps, Eight Goals, One Assist
A somewhat unlikely inclusion at third place, Tim Cahill’s aerial prowess always seemed to do the trick against Sunderland. The Aussie icon’s first strike came all the way back in 2004, bagging a winner to see his Millwall side unexpectedly reach the FA Cup final.
2. Robbie Keane – 15 Apps, Eight Goals
Robbie Keane scored against Sunderland for three different clubs throughout his Premier League career, namely Coventry, Leeds United, and Tottenham Hotspur. However, he never scored more than one goal in a single appearance – arguably making his one-in-two strike rate all the more impressive.
1. Robin van Persie – 14 Apps, Eight Goals, Two Assist
So there you have it, no striker boasts a healthier return against Sunderland than former Arsenal and Manchester United star Robin van Persie, who has contributed to ten goals in 14 appearances – netting eight himself.
