By RYAN WALKER
Published: 17:00 EST, 17 December 2024 | Updated: 17:00 EST, 17 December 2024
Mohamed Salah is firing Liverpool to the Premier League title - or at least doing his best to - and with the Egyptian leading the goalscoring charts on 13 top-flight strikes, it's hard to argue that he isn't the league's current best performer.
Liverpool's two-point lead over Chelsea at the Premier League summit has seen Arne Slot enjoy a dream debut reign at Anfield, with Salah rediscovering his best form under the Dutchman.
It's not only in the Premier League where Salah is starring with the 32-year-old scoring twice in the Champions League to help Liverpool also top the European standings after six games.
Salah's recent stunning goalscoring fortunes aren't the only impressive fate with the winger also providing nine assists in the Premier League as Liverpool benefit from his career-best spell of form.
The Reds have scored 31 goals in the league this season and Salah's contribution of being involved in 71 per cent of those is the highest for any player in the division.
But while Salah steers clear, Mail Sport takes a look at who has been the clutch player for every Premier League team this season.
Mohammed Salah boasts the title of the most clutch player in the Premier League this year
The Egyptian has contributed to 71 per cent of Liverpool's 31 goals in England's top flight
Arsenal - Bukayo Saka
It shouldn't come as a surprise to see Arsenal's star boy starring as their star player with Saka managing a return of being involved in 15 goals this season, scoring five times and recording 10 assists.
His impressive number mean the Englishman has been involved in just over half (51.7 per cent) of Arsenal's goals as the Gunners look to challenge for the title.
Aston Villa - Ollie Watkins
It's not been the same stunning goal return so far that the Aston Villa striker managed last season, but Watkins - despite facing increased competition from Jhon Duran - has been involved in more team goals than anyone else.
Seven goals and three assists in 16 Premier League appearances this season means Watkins has contributed to 41.7 per cent of Villa's 24 league goals. Impressive.
Bournemouth - Justin Kluivert
The Cherries are one of the surprises packages in the Premier League this season with Andoni Iraola taking the club to within just four points of the Champions League places.
Kluivert has been influential in the club's rise with the Dutchman being involved in 30.4 per cent of the team's goals, managing five goals and two assists from the wing.
Brentford - Bryan Mbeumo
Mbeumo scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season in Sunday's 2-1 defeat against Chelsea as the 25-year-old continues to show he is up there with the top-flight's best attackers this season.
Thomas Frank's side have been relentless in front of goal by scoring 32 times this season and Mbeumo's contribution has seen him rise above his team-mates with the pace merchant contributing to 37.5 per cent of goals.
England international Bukayo Saka has been the standout player in Arsenal's side this year
Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins has contributed to 41.7 per cent of Aston Villa's 24 league goals
Brighton - Danny Welbeck
The former Manchester United striker was previously one of the Premier League's forgotten men but is now Brighton's most important forward with the 34-year-old playing a part in 30.8 per cent of the club's 26 team goals.
Welbeck only seems to have got better with age and six goals alongside two assists this season places him in good company amongst the league's top performers.
Chelsea - Cole Palmer
Manchester City's loss is Chelsea's gain as Palmer continues from where he left off last season with him involved in more goals this season than any other player in the league - besides Salah and Erling Haaland.
Like his Liverpool counterpart, Palmer is the key figure in Chelsea's title challenge under Enzo Maresca and his 11 goals and six assists mean he has chipped in with 45.9 per cent of the team's strikes.
Should Chelsea pull of the unthinkable by going all the way to lifting the Premier League trophy come May then it will largely be in part down to Palmer's brilliance.
Crystal Palace - Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr
Palace look to have turned a corner after producing a shock 3-1 win over Brighton at the weekend and Mateta has been crucial in helping relieve the pressure on manager Oliver Glasner.
The Eagles carry a much-improved attacking threat when Mateta is involved and his four goals along with single assist make him a pivotal figure in the team making an impact in 29.4 per cent of team goals.
Coincidentally, Sarr has made the exact contribution this season in 29.4 per cent of goals.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer picked up where he left off last season with his impressive form
Ismaila Sarr (pictured) and Jean-Philippe Mateta share Palace's 'most clutch player' title
Everton - Dwight McNeil
The Toffees have a three-point breathing space to the relegation zone after drawing with Arsenal on Saturday and former Burnley man McNeil is having a growing influence on Sean Dyche's side.
He's been involved in six goals this season - three assists and three strikes - meaning the 25-year-old has been a top contributor in 42.9 per cent of Everton's 14 Premier League goals.
Fulham - Alex Iwobi
Marco Silva is big on sharing goals and assists throughout his forward line, but the former Arsenal man is shining above the rest of his team-mates this season.
Fulham have found the back of the net 24 times this season and Iwobi has been involved in just under half of those at 33.3 per cent making him a pivotal figure in the club's plans to challenge for Europe.
Ipswich - Liam Delap
Rewind to the last few years and Delap was a figure that would probably never reach the Premier League, but the Man City academy talent has starred after joining Ipswich in the summer.
His six goals have been crucial to the club's attempts to climb out of the the bottom three and with a goal contribution of 43.8 per cent he is certainly doing his part in Ipswich's survival efforts.
Leicester - Jamie Vardy
Mr Leicester City himself is back in the Premier League and continuing to make an impact at the age of 37 with his nine goal contributions amongst the top-flight's best.
Newly-appointed Foxes boss Ruud Van Nistelrooy is getting the best out of the veteran and Vardy is showing no signs of slowing down with him playing a role in 42.9 per cent of the team's 21 goals this season.
Ipswich forward Liam Delap has shone in the top-flight since the Tractor Boys' promotion
Veteran forward Jamie Vardy remains one of the most clutch players in English football
Manchester City - Erling Haaland
The reigning Premier League champions might currently be the worst performers in the league with things taking another turn for the worst after losing in dramatic circumstances against rivals Man United on Sunday, but the Norwegian is still City's biggest contributor.
He starred during the early parts of the season with 10 goals in the opening five matches of the season and has been involved in exactly 50 per cent of City's 28 league strikes.
But, Haaland has only scored once in his past five appearances and if he can't score then it's no wonder City are struggling.
Manchester United - Bruno Fernandes
The Portuguese has been the main man at Old Trafford ever since joining from Sporting Lisbon four-years ago and is making a real captain's contribution this season.
Fernandes scored from the spot to equalise against City on Sunday before Amad Diallo fired in a stoppage time winner and to take the playmaker's goal contribution up to 42.9 per cent.
Amorim's arrival seems to have handed Fernandes back the freedom he previously enjoyed when he first stepped foot in Manchester and that is only proving to be a good thing for United.
Newcastle United - Alexander Isak
Seven goals and four assists in the Premier League this season highlight just how important Isak is to Newcastle - who without him are a team that struggle to find the back of the net.
Isak is widely-regarded as one of Europe's most talented strikers and chipping in with seven goals and eight assists this season - a 47.8 per cent contribution - back-up that claim.
Man United captain Bruno Fernandes goal contribution is up to 42.9 per cent this season
Erling Haaland has been involved in exactly 50 per cent of Manchester City's 28 league strikes
Nottingham Forest - Chris Wood
Forest were battling relegation last season and now find themselves currently occupying the final Champions League spot which is largely in part to Wood's stunning performances.
10 goals in 16 Premier League outings make him one of the top-flight's most potent forwards this season and having starred in 47.6 per cent of Forest's goals show the impact he is making on their stunning run.
Southampton - Adam Armstrong
The Saints have been the worst performers in the league this season summarised by Russell Martin being sacked as manager on Sunday after a 5-0 hammering by Spurs and it's no surprise to see their top contributor at the bottom of the list.
Armstrong has been a stalwart to Southampton over the years and is doing his best this season by helping with three goal contributions to bring up a total of 27.3 per cent. The struggling south coast club have only scored 11 times this season and on current form are heading straight back to the Championship.
Tottenham - Son-Heung min and James Maddison
Ange Postecoglou might have slammed his side's inconsistencies this season, but the club captain has been a pivotal figure alongside English playmaker Maddison with both involved in 30.6 per cent of the team's 36 goals.
Son is into the final year of his Spurs contract but is in talks to deservedly extend his stay, while Maddison is doing everything he can force himself back into England contention.
Both have helped in 11 goals each this season with Son scoring five times and assisting six, while Maddison has managed seven goals and four assists.
Tottenham duo Son-Heung min (left) and James Maddison (right) are level in their contribution
West Ham - Jarrod Bowen
The Hammers hero is delivering the goods again this season and his improvements in recent weeks are playing a huge role in giving Julen Lopetegui a lifeline as West Ham manager after a difficult start to his tenure.
Bowen has made eight goal contributions this season - four goals and four assists - which is 40 per cent of the team's 20 strikes and a Monday evening trip to Bournemouth could improve those numbers.
Wolverhampton - Matheus Cunha
Gary O'Neil was sacked as Wolves boss at the weekend with the club 19th in the Premier League standings on just nine points, but Cunha can hold his head high having made more of an impact than any other player in the team.
The 25-year-old has been involved in just under half (45.8 per cent) of Wolves' 24 goals this season and without his efforts the club could even be below Southampton.
However, Cunha could be set for a costly spell on the sidelines as the FA consider punishing him for shoving his hand in an official's face after the weekend defeat against Ipswich.
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