The Premier League’s finest forwards have made a blistering start to the season, with two players reaching the double-figure mark after 12 games.
Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are all going neck to neck in the title race—and the early contenders will need to keep finding the back of the net if they are to be victorious. Of course, being a striker isn’t just about scoring goals anymore. You have to hold up, link play, press, run the channels, provide flexibility and bully defences.
Here in this list, we’re going for any player who operates wide or centrally but isn’t just a conventional striker. Without much ado, here are the top five forwards who have lit up the Premier League so far.
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Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
It is getting hard to discount the feeling that Ollie Watkins’ career has taken off at Aston Villa following Unai Emery’s arrival last November. Under Emery, Watkins has redefined his game to the bare basics and become a pure output machine.
The England international has netted goals in double digits for the last three top-flight seasons at Villa Park. His ability to take players on, link-up play and first touch have all improved in the last 10-12 months, thereby, transforming into a top and reliable goalscorer for Villa.
After bagging just two assists in the opening five games, Watkins has registered six goals and three assists in the last seven games which has lifted Emery’s side to fifth in the table.
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Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
At just 22, Bukayo Saka is already one of the top stars in the Premier League. He led the way with goal involvements last season, scoring 14 times and setting up a further 12 for the Gunners. The England international was a key player for Mikel Arteta’s side that pushed Manchester City all the way in the title race.
Technically blessed and tactically intelligent, Saka is just as capable of cutting in from the right flank and finding the back of the net as he is at delivering pin-point crosses into the box with his right foot. The 22-year-old has got off to a solid start in the 2023/24 season, registering four goals and as many assists in 11 outings so far.
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Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
Son Heung-min has taken over the mantle from Harry Kane following his summer departure to Bayern Munich, netting eight times and supplying an assist in 12 league appearances while playing down the middle. It is a really good return for a player who has mostly played the entirety of his Spurs career on the wings.
The South Korean has lost a yard of pace in the last 12-15 months but he remains one of the most potent goalscorers in the Premier League, well into his 30s. There were concerns from fans and pundits alike about who’d share the goalscoring responsibility following Kane’s exit, and Son has extinguished them with a strong start to the campaign. It is the 31-year-old’s experience, movement and intelligence that make him perfect for a central role in Postecoglou’s flexible system at Spurs.
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Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah has again shown why Liverpool can rely on him for goals. He has bagged 10 goals and four assists in 12 league appearances, including scoring in the Reds’ 3-0 win over Brentford at Anfield last Sunday.
The Egyptian star’s all-round play is also highlighted by his 11 big chances created, at least three more than any other player this season. A pure output machine, the 31-year-old is rightly one of the most adored players in the world over the last four to five years.
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Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Erling Haaland’s stats speak for themselves, with 67 goals in 70 appearances for Manchester City and a major reason behind their treble-winning season. He has hit the ground since arriving at the Etihad Stadium last summer and has stood out as one of the best attacking players in the world, if not the greatest striker around right now.
The Norwegian goal-machine is gunning to reclaim the Golden Boot award, with 13 goals scored in 12 Premier League games already. His work rate and pressing remain as valuable to Guardiola’s system as his goals but his strong leadership too—especially when it comes to penalty-taking duties—must not be overlooked either.
At just 23 years of age, there is still so much to come from Haaland, and Guardiola will hope the striker manages to keep himself fit and firing for the club.
