Leading the line has always come with immense pressure for strikers, yet
taking on such a role in the most esteemed league in world football, the
Premier League, makes finding the net an even tougher task. Scoring goals has
perpetually been an arduous feat within England's top division,The scoring
statistics seen as gargantuan in other leagues are difficult to replicate in
the Premier League. Accordingly, those targetmen who have distinguished
themselves as prolific marksmen in the Premier League are worthy of
acknowledgement. This article from Goal Reader blog intends to identify the
top five strikers in the competition's history, validated by substantive
metrics. We invite you to follow along.
Luis Suarez
The Uruguayan striking legend Luis Suarez has shone at many European clubs,
but to truly emphasise his talents, we must remember his historic performances
with Liverpool in the Premier League. Suarez has many memorable moments
ingrained in the fans' memories at Anfield, through which he proved himself as
one of the top five strikers in English football history, and football in
general.
Luis Suarez's stats with Liverpool - Mastery on the game's grandest stages:
El Pistolero played 133 games in all competitions for Liverpool, contributing
to 129 goals through scoring 82 himself and assisting 47 more.
Didier Drogba
In discussing the top 5 strikers in Premier League history, Chelsea legend
Didier Drogba has to be mentioned. The Ivorian striker remains in Blues fans'
memories as one of the most prolific to play at Stamford Bridge. Who can
forget Drogba's historic header against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions
League final?!.
Didier Drogba's stats for Chelsea
The Ivorian striker Didier Drogba played 226 games for Chelsea, contributing
to 154 goals by scoring 100 and assisting 54, starting 179 of those
appearances.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Arriving at Old Trafford in 2003 and showcasing truly historic form with
United, then returning to the same stage in 2021 and shining again—this is
what Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo achieved in the world's top leagues.
This is a major pillar in classifying him amongst the Premier League's
greatest ever strikers.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Stats with Manchester United (First Stint)
During his first stint with Manchester United, Ronaldo played 292 matches
across all competitions, contributing to 196 goals by scoring 118 and
assisting 69.Ronaldo's individual achievements during this period include
winning the Ballon d'Or in 2008, topping the Premier League scoring charts
once, and winning the FWA Footballer of the Year twice.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Stats with Manchester United (Second Stint)
In his second stint with Manchester United, Ronaldo played 54 matches,
contributing to 32 goals by scoring 27 and assisting five.
Harry Kane:
Many English football experts agree that Bayern Munich's current striker,
formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane, is one of the top five strikers in
Premier League history. The most debated point about Kane's brilliance in
English football revolves around his last club in England—Tottenham Hotspur, a
team that failed to win any major trophies during Kane's tenure. This lack of
silverware somewhat diminished Kane's media presence compared to others on
this list.
Harry Kane’s Stats with Tottenham
Kane played 435 matches for Tottenham, contributing to 341 goals by
scoring 280 and assisting 61.
Mohamed Salah
In the past, Liverpool’s current striker, the Egyptian international Mohamed
Salah, was often seen as a standout star in the Premier League. However, with
Salah’s incredible consistency—making him the second African striker on this
list—it has become clear to everyone that Salah rightfully deserves a place
among the greatest Premier League strikers of all time.
Mohamed Salah’s Stats with Liverpool (As of August 31, 2024)
Salah's journey with Liverpool continues, with plenty of records still
waiting to be broken. As of August 31, 2024, Salah has played 351 matches for
Liverpool, contributing to 303 goals by scoring 213 and assisting 90.