EPL's most lethal strike duos

The latest hot-shot strike partnership, Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
The latest hot-shot strike partnership, Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez are the first Liverpool strikers in 50 years to score at least 20 league goals each. Here are five of the most successful strike duos in EPL history.

ANDY COLE and PETER BEARDSLEY (Newcastle United, 1993-95)

Andy Cole (left) and Peter Beardsley scored 55 goals, over a 42-game campaign, for Newcastle. -- PHOTOS: THE NEW PAPER

Newcastle were promoted in 1993 and stormed to a third-place finish in their first season back in elite ranks, thanks largely to the goals of Cole and Beardsley.

The pair proved ideal foils for each other, with 32-year-old schemer Beardsley helping lithe 21-year-old Cole plunder 34 goals while also finding the net 21 times himself.

Their tally of 55 goals, over a 42-game campaign, remains a Premier League record.

ALAN SHEARER and CHRIS SUTTON (Blackburn Rovers, 1994-96)

Alan Shearer (left) and Chris Sutton were Blackburn's "SAS". -- PHOTOS: THE NEW PAPER, ST FILE

They were the original "SAS", named after the special forces regiment of the British army.

Such was their firepower that they helped Blackburn to win the Premier League title in 1995.

Shearer scored 34 goals and Sutton chipped in with 15 as the Lancashire club claimed their first league crown since 1914.

DWIGHT YORKE and ANDY COLE (Man United, 1998-2001)

Dwight Yorke (left) and Andy Cole shared 35 league goals in their first season as United claimed a treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup trophies -- PHOTOS: ST FILE, THE NEW PAPER

Cole's days at Old Trafford looked to be numbered after United paid Aston Villa £12.6 million to secure Yorke's services in 1998. Instead, the pair struck up an extraordinary understanding.

In their very first season, they shared 35 league goals as United claimed a treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup trophies. The following season, they amassed 39 goals in a successful title defence.

THIERRY HENRY and DENNIS BERGKAMP (Arsenal, 1999-2006)

Dennis Bergkamp (left) and Thierry Henry inspired their club to a flurry of trophies. -- PHOTO: AFP

A classic partnership, elegant No.10 Bergkamp and thoroughbred striker Henry inspired the club to a flurry of trophies, most memorably during the unbeaten title-winning season in 2003-04.

Bergkamp was never particularly prolific but the Dutchman's vision and ability to weigh a pass made him a perfect partner for the jet-heeled Henry, who became the club's all-time leading scorer.

They scored a combined total of 200 league goals.

LUIS SUAREZ and DANIEL STURRIDGE (Liverpool, from 2013)

The new "SAS". Sturridge's signing from Chelsea in January 2013 was seen as something of a gamble but he proved an immediate success at Anfield, scoring 10 goals in his first 14 league games.

After Suarez had served his 10-game ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic last season, the pair joined forces to sensational effect.

Suarez tops the scorers' chart from Sturridge, who has 20.

SOURCE: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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