Strikers are the players who create the headlines, the ones who win games by scoring goals and ones who invariably become the most famous, but who are the Premier League best?
Everyone will have their own opinions on this one and there are several players who could make this list, but for me these are the best five:
Matt Le Tissier
Who knows what Le Tissier could’ve done in his career if it wasn’t for his loyalty towards Southampton. He had one of the best touches in the game and it was beyond a joke that he didn’t receive more England caps, in which you have to think was due to the club he played for and definitely not his ability.
He scored some remarkable goals, most notably his strikes against Newcastle and Blackburn which displayed the range of his skill set. He could’ve been an England great, but he will always be a Saints and Premier League legend.
PL Games: 270 Goals: 101
Thierry Henry
What can you say about this man. Well, you could say he brought success to the Gunners on his own and over two hundred goals can back that up. Henry could produce moments of magic. Who could forget that goal against Manchester United for one? Blessed with speed, power and the ability to score from anywhere, the only criticism can be the sulking for goal celebrations. But even so the combination of Pires, Ljungberg, Bergkamp and himself were a force to be reckoned with and Henry will be forever be one of the greatest premier league strikers.
PL Games: 254 Goals: 174
Alan Shearer
Another man who may have thought what could have been in his career was Alan Shearer. Turning down a move to Manchester United in favour of Newcastle, ended up with him being a Toon legend but one with no medals to his name for the Magpies. But it wasn’t all in vain and as finishers go, he is easily one of the best. He could finish from anywhere, whether it is was outside of the box or inside the box and usually most shots would fly in, leading to his famous one arm lofted in the sky celebration. He may have been one of the most clinical of strikers in Premiership history.
PL Games: 441 Goals: 260
Dennis Bergkamp
Alongside Henry, Bergkamp was a huge factor in Arsenal’s years of glory. The partnership between them was often majestic and Bergkamp often set up for Henry to finish. Bergkamp had the skill and swagger that you expect most Dutchmen to have and his goal against Newcastle is one I will never forget. Whilst his fear for flying ruled him out of many European nights, he quickly become an Arsenal legend and he will never be forgotten by the fans of the Premier league.
Eric Cantona
For United fans, Sir Alex is God and Cantona is the king and King Eric is what he will be lovingly known as until the end of time. They, like many others, believe that the Frenchman was the final piece to Ferguson’s puzzle, the man needed to turn promise into success and boy did he deliver.
Cantona had had a troublesome career in his homeland and seeked refuge in England and when Ferguson signed him from Leeds for £1.2 million, and it ended up being one of the signings of the Premier League.
Three titles in four seasons showed his importance in the side, especially when you consider the season he didn’t win was the one he was suspended for six months in. Cantona was an unbelievable talent and his goal against Sunderland showed his class and skill in abundance. For me the greatest talent the Premiership has ever seen.
PL Games: 155 Goals: 70
Honourable mentions: Robin Van Persie, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Gianfranco Zola, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Robbie Fowler, Didier Drogba, Michael Owen, Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole, Ian Wright, Ole Gunner Solksjaer