Iheanacho, Salah, Awoniyi: What did you miss this weekend?

In this feature, Goal's Seye Omidiora picks out some of the under-the-radar stats you may have missed this weekend - and explains what they mean for Africa's biggest stars.

Having conceded four times from five attempts on target in the 4-0 home defeat by Cambuur in the previous gameweek, Okoye was at his supreme best despite Sparta Rotterdam losing 2-1 at PSV Eindhoven.

The goalkeeper made a staggering nine saves in the defeat, a higher number than every shot-stopper in the Eredivisie over the weekend—Utrecht’s Maarten Paes was the closest with six stops in his side’s 1-0 win at Ajax.

In spite of the reverse, Okoye’s performance was certainly improved after last week’s horror show.

Nkunku’s brace in RB Leipzig’s 3-0 success over Bochum was the first time the attacking midfielder will score braces in successive Bundesliga games for the German outfit.

He also netted twice in the 6-0 dismantling of Hertha Berlin last weekend, and the strikes have taken his league haul for the season to four from seven appearances.

Having never scored higher than six times in the league in his career, this season could see Nkunku outdo his personal best from 2020/21.

After going three Bundesliga games without scoring, Awoniyi netted twice in Union Berlin’s comeback 2-1 win over Mainz at the weekend.

Curiously, the Nigerian’s brace came from only two attempts on target (four attempts in total), an improvement from last weekend where he failed to score despite three attempts in total against Bielefeld.

The 24-year-old is now up to five league goals in seven appearances.

The Liverpool star netted his sixth Premier League goal of 2021/22 in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Sunday, but his first of the league campaign with his right foot.

Having netted his previous five goals with his favoured left foot, Salah was able to turn away from Rodri, dribble past Bernardo Silva and deceive Aymeric Laporte before shooting past Ederson.

Interestingly, the Egypt star netted only one of his 22 PL strikes last term with his weaker foot, a tally he may well outdo this season.

Brendan Rodgers finally gave the frontman his first Premier League start of the campaign and the forward rewarded his manager’s faith by scoring in the 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace.

What many observers probably missed was that Iheanacho’s goal came from his only attempt of the game before his withdrawal in the 71st minute.

By contrast, Jamie Vardy, his strike partner, had three attempts in the encounter.