The Premier League is home to some of the best strikers in world football, and this season has been no exception. From the pinpoint finishing of Erling Haaland to the dynamic playmaking of Ollie Watkins, the league has showcased a wide range of attacking talent. Players like Chris Wood and Evanilson have made a significant impact, proving their worth with impressive goalscoring records and all-round performances. Whether it’s the precision of Yoane Wissa or the relentless energy of Raul Jiménez, these forwards have been crucial to their teams’ success. Wintips takes a look at some of the best forwards in the Premier league.
Ranking the best forwards in the Premier league
9. Chris Wood
Chris Wood currently plays for Nottingham Forest and has a Squawka rating of 71%. Chris Wood has been in great form this season. He is one of the main reasons why Nottingham Forest are doing so well in the Premier League. The New Zealand striker has averaged 0.8 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, with eight goals in total. If he continues this form, Wood will break his best ever record in a Premier League season, scoring 14 goals in the 2023-24 and 2019-20 seasons.
One thing Wood has going for him is his shooting accuracy, hitting the target with 66.67% of his shots in the Premier League this season. That puts him in the 95th percentile for forwards. Wood is also among the best in possession, with just 0.5 dispossessions per 90 minutes. And his 2.81 successful passes per 90 minutes is the best of any striker who has played at least 495 minutes.
8. Evanilson
Evanilson is currently playing for Bournemouth and has a Squawka rating of 71%. A new face in the Premier League this season, no one really knew what to expect from Evanilson at Bournemouth. We've seen people struggle to make the transition to the Portuguese Primeira Liga before. But Evanilson has quickly made himself at home.
He has scored 0.5 goals per 90 minutes this season, up from 0.4 non-penalty expected goals. He has won one penalty and has been fouled in the final third 0.63 times per 90. Evanilson is still a bit raw, but that's what makes him so effective. The Brazilian has also won 0.88 possessions in the attacking third per 90, putting him in the 80th-95th percentile among strikers.
7. Raul Jiménez
Raul Jiménez is currently playing for Fulham and has a Squawka rating of 71%. Raul Jimenez has reminded everyone of what he is all about this season. The Mexican blew the Premier League away when he first joined Wolves, before injury struck. Last season for Fulham, Jimenez scored seven goals in 24 games. This year, he has a better rate.
Jimenez has four goals in 11 games so far this season, averaging 0.54 per 90 minutes. He is also showing his creativity, with 0.27 intentional assists per 90 minutes. Jimenez is involved in Fulham's attack, being involved in 3.16% of the team's attacking sequences that ended in a shot while he was on the pitch. That number may not seem like much, but Jimenez is in the 80-95 percentile among forwards.
6. Dominic Solanke
Dominic Solanke currently plays for Tottenham and has a Squawka rating of 72%. Dominic Solanke made a big move in the summer, joining Tottenham Hotspur from Bournemouth. There were some questions about whether Solanke could continue his goalscoring form at a bigger club. And whether last season was just a one-off. But Solanke is doing well so far.
The Englishman has 0.45 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season and 0.11 intentional assists. He has been on target with 58.33% of his total attempts, putting him in the 95th percentile among strikers. Solanke also averages 2.14 non-penalty shots per 90 minutes and has a non-penalty xG of 0.62 per 90.
5. Ollie Watkins
Ollie Watkins currently plays for Aston Villa and has a Squawka rating of 72%. Ollie Watkins won the Playmaker award last season for having the most assists in the Premier League. This year, he has refocused his efforts on scoring goals. The England international has been directly involved in seven goals so far this season, scoring five and providing two assists. Those five goals work out to an average of 0.53 per 90 minutes, while he has one intentional assist at a rate of 0.11 per 90 minutes.
Watkins has also proved difficult to play against in defences. He has been fouled in the final third 0.85 times per 90 minutes this season, which is in the 95th percentile among strikers. He has also been caught offside just 0.11 times per 90 minutes. Watkins will hope to be more involved as the season continues.
4. Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck currently plays for Brighton and has a Squawka rating of 75%. Danny Welbeck is enjoying a resurgence. The England international has been directly involved in eight goals this season, two more than he managed in 29 games last term. Welbeck has averaged 0.58 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League, with an xG of 0.49 non-penalties.
Although he has yet to register a deliberate assist this season, Welbeck is still a good link-up player for his Brighton teammates. Welbeck averages 2.41 successful passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League, putting him in the top 95% of all strikers. And he has actually provided two assists, averaging 0.19 per 90.
3. Nicolas Jackson
Nicolas Jackson currently plays for Chelsea and has a Squawka rating of 77%. It’s time people started giving the name Nicolas Jackson some respect. The Chelsea striker has been subjected to a lot of criticism from fans since joining the Blues last season. Although it took a while for Chelsea fans to warm up to him, they eventually did. But in the eyes of other fans, he is still a meme player.
But he shouldn’t be. Jackson has averaged 0.62 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season and 0.31 intentional assists. The latter puts him in the 95th percentile among strikers. Jackson has been on target with 60% of his shots and, excluding penalties, has an expected goal of 0.69. He has been crucial for Chelsea this season.
2. Yoane Wissa
Yoane Wissa currently plays for Brentford and has a Squawka rating of 79%. Yoane Wissa may not seem like much, even when looking at Brentford. But he is one of the best strikers in the Premier League at the moment. The DR Congo international has averaged 0.95 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, from 0.71 xG excluding penalties.
Wissa is particularly reliable at creating big chances, scoring 0.95 big chances per 90 minutes in the league this season, more than any other player with at least 50% of his minutes played. He is also a good marksman, with a shooting accuracy of 60% and a shot placement rate of 1.17 — which is the xG to Expected Goals on Target ratio.
1. Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland currently plays for Manchester City and has a Squawka rating of 81%. Who’s really shocked? Despite what some would have you believe, Erling Haaland is still the most dangerous striker in the Premier League. The Norwegian has scored 12 Premier League goals so far this season, four more than any other player. Those goals come at an average of 1.09 per 90 minutes, putting Haaland in the 95th percentile among strikers. That’s no surprise.
Haaland averages 2.91 shots on target per 90 and 1.02 non-penalty xGOT, again both in the 95th percentile. In fact, Haaland is in the 95th percentile for xG, shots, expected headed goals and touches in the opposition box. He is the man to beat, and no one can beat him at this moment.
Conclusion
Premier League’s forward talent continues to impress, with a mix of established stars and emerging players making their mark. Erling Haaland remains the undisputed leader in terms of goals, while players like Ollie Watkins and Yoane Wissa offer valuable versatility and creativity. Chris Wood’s clinical finishing and Evanilson’s adaptation to the Premier League add depth to the competition, while Raul Jiménez and Nicolas Jackson show that experience and potential can go hand in hand. As the season progresses, these forwards will undoubtedly play key roles in shaping the race for the top positions in the league, showcasing the incredible attacking prowess on offer in one of the world’s most exciting football competitions.
See more: Top 10 best center backs in the Premier league 2023/24
