Featuring Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool stars.
10. Daniel Sturridge (45 goals, 144.8 minutes per goal)
It was by no means guaranteed that the England striker would prove value for money at the £12m Liverpool paid Chelsea in January 2012 but Sturridge has been a revelation at Anfield. The 24-year-old, who struggled for games and goals at both Man City and Stamford Bridge, has flourished in a central striker role and formed one of the most feared partnerships in Europe with Luis Suarez.
9. Edin Dzeko (34 goals, 140.8 minutes per goal)
Dzeko is Manchester City’s third choice striker this season and his inclusion on this list demonstrates the Citizens’ staggering strength in depth. The Bosnian striker, signed for £26m from Wolfsburg in January 2011, has never been a first team regular at the Etihad Stadium but still boasts 34 league goals and 50 in total for the club.
8. Hernan Jorge Crespo (20 goals, 140.7 minutes per goal)
The Argentine is often referred to as a flop after two slightly underwhelming seasons at Chelsea, separated by a loan spell back in Italy with AC Milan. But Crespo managed ten league goals in each campaign and his minutes to goal ratio is better than Blues legend Didier Drogba.
7. Luis Suarez (57 goals, 136.5 minutes per goal)
If this list was based on this season alone, Suarez would be way out in front. But the Uruguayan, who has netted 19 goals in 13 games this term, was wasteful during his first year-and-a-half in England, managing just 15 goals in his first 44 league appearances. If the 26-year-old can continue to perform at even half his current level, he will continue to climb towards top spot…
6. Romelu Lukaku (25 goals, 134.9 minutes per goal)
The Belgian has been a revelation whilst on loan at first West Brom and now Everton and it seems increasingly astonishing that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho sanctioned the 20-year-old’s departure in the summer. Lukaku has scored more league goals this season than Chelsea’s three strikers – Demba Ba, Romelu Lukaku and Fernando Torres – combimed.
5. Robin van Persie (129 goals, 134.3 minutes per goal)
The Dutchman almost single-handedly inspired Manchester United to the Premier League title last season, finishing with the Golden Boot for the second consecutive campaign following his £23m move from Arsenal. If it wasn’t for a succession of injuries during his eight years in North London, Van Persie would almost certainly be even higher than fifth on his list.
4. Ruud van Nistelrooy (95 goals, 128.2 minutes per goal)
Arguably the Premier League’s finest ever poacher, the Dutch striker scored nearly 100 Premier League goals but never netted from outside the box. Van Nistelrooy was as clinical a striker as the English top flight has even seen, even if his love of a scrappy goal wasn’t always aesthetically pleasing.
3. Javier Hernandez (34 goals, 128.2 minutes per goal)
‘Chicarito’ is a great poacher and the Mexican has taken up Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s mantle as Man United’s super-sub. But the 25-year-old appears to be getting increasingly frustrated by his inability to secure regular first team football at Old Trafford.
2. Thierry Henry (175 goals, 121.8 minutes per goal)
The mercurial Frenchman is perhaps the most naturally gifted player ever to grace the Premier League and it is remarkable that he played for so long, scored so many goals and yet still finishes second on this list. The Arsenal striker could score any type of great goal, be it a long-range volley or a mazy run, and was the most feared forward in England during his eight years in North London.
1. Sergio Aguero (48 goals, 118.1 minutes per goal)
The Argentine is the scorer of one the most famous goals in Premier League – the late winner over QPR to secure Man City’s maiden title – but also boasts the best goals per minute ratio in its history. Despite having a mixed season by his standards last term, Aguero has consistently found the net and his scintillating form so far this term would have pundits running out of superlatives, were it not for Suarez’s even better performances.
