Why Michy Batshuayi & Christian Benteke Will Become One of the Premier League's Top Duos This Year
Few strikers in English football need a fresh start like Michy Batshuayi and Christian Benteke do. The former was recently discarded by Valencia after failing to live up to expectations, whilst the latter has managed just three goals in his last 39 appearances.
The pair have now linked up at Selhurst Park with Crystal Palace, and they could soon be set to take the Premier League by storm.
Form and injuries aside, there is no doubting that both strikers know where the back of the net is.
Benteke has managed to reach at least ten goals in four of his six full seasons in the Premier League, racking up 15 strikes just two years ago. As for Batshuayi, he boasts stunning goalscoring records in both France and Germany, and his form in England was always solid. He started just 18 games for Chelsea, but managed 12 goals in those matches.
Both forwards have all the natural qualities to be successful in the Premier League. They have enough speed to ask questions of defenders, whilst they certainly have the strength to establish themselves as perennial nuisances amongst centre-backs. Whether the ball is in the air or on the ground, both Benteke and Batshuayi can score goals.
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Their partnership brings back memories of Newcastle United's pairing of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse between 2011 and 2013. The Senegalese duo were relatively unknown commodities before arriving in England, but their goalscoring record at St James' Park spoke for itself.
Ba managed 16 goals in the 2011/12 season, and Cisse registered 13, despite only arriving in January. The two were strong, quick and dangerous, and the Premier League simply could not handle them. Now it is time for Benteke and Batshuayi to do the same.
On their own, they may have struggled in recent years. However, when they come together, the results could be stunning.
Even since January, the signs have been there. Benteke has looked rejuvenated following his return from injury, and Batshuayi's attacking presence has already created goals for his teammates.
Both do their best work with the ball in the box. They feed on scraps and they use their physicality to create chances, and they are both the kind of striker which defenders hate to play against. However, Premier League defenders now cannot just worry about one, because there are two towering Belgians gracing the turf at Selhurst Park.
Supported by the creative force that is Wilfried Zaha, the possibilities are endless. Andros Townsend, Luka Milivojevic and Patrick van Aanholt all also love to put the ball in the box, and they now have two targets to aim for. If they can stay fit, Benteke and Batshuayi could be the pair to watch out for during the second half of the season.
