Ten landmarks and records in sight on Sunday

Think there’s nothing to play for? There are records and landmarks all over the place…

 

Manchester City: 100 points in a Premier League season
Wednesday’s victory over Brighton took Manchester City to a Premier League record points total of 97 but what is far sexier than 97? Well, 100 of course. Victory at Southampton on Sunday will do the trick, and will simultaneously see them claim the records for most away points/wins in a season too.

 

Mo Salah: Most goals in all competitions by a Premier League player
It’s a record currently held by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who scored 44 goals in 2002/03. Mo Salah is one goal short of that record so could match it or even better it on Sunday against Brighton. Or he could save it for the Champions League final against Real Madrid. That would be nice.

 

Harry Kane: First Golden Boot three-peat since Thierry Henry
Harry Kane (28) is currently three goals behind Mo Salah (31) so expect him to take about 27 shots against Leicester on Sunday. If he can get at least a share of the Golden Boot, his will be the first hat-trick since King Henry, who reigned between 2003 and 2006.

 

Harry Kane: Most shots in a Premier League season
He has taken 181 so far – 41 more than Mo Salah – and the record is held by Luis Suarez at 187 in 2012/13. Ten times this season he has attempted at least seven shots in a game, so this particular record is surely on.

 

Crystal Palace: Joint-highest finish in their Premier League history
They finished third in 1990/91 before football officially began, but they have never been higher than tenth in the Premier League. After this season’s start, matching the top-half antics of 2014/15 would be quite some feat.

 

Leicester City: Joint-second-highest finish in their Premier League history
Which kind of puts their title-winning season into perspective. If they can haul themselves into eighth then they will have matched the finish of Martin O’Neill’s 1999/2000 side, who finished behind seventh-placed Sunderland that year. And Claude Puel is still likely to lose his job.

 

Bournemouth: 39th-best team in Premier League history
There is very rarely a move on the all-time Premier League table but on Sunday, Bournemouth could leapfrog Sheffield United into 39th with a win over Burnley. They will have accumulated 132 points in just three seasons. Next campaign, they will have promoted Wolves in their sights. Good luck, Cherries.

 

Raheem Sterling: 50 Premier League goals
His 18 goals this season have taken him to the cusp but one more will take him to 50 goals and level with the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Danny Murphy. A reminder – for it seems that it is often needed – that Sterling is just 23.

 

Chris Brunt: 50 Premier League assists
It could well be his final Premier League appearance so it seems fitting that he could reach a landmark only achieved by 33 other players. Just one more assist takes him to the half-century and level with Mesut Ozil. Yes, Mesut bloody Ozil.

 

Jermain Defoe: All-time sixth top Premier League goalscorer
His goal against Watford in March took him to 162 goals – one fewer than Robbie Fowler – so another against Burnley will see him draw level with God. And who wouldn’t want to draw level with God?