Another Premier League weekend is done and dusted, and now that four Matchdays have been completed in the English top flight, it’s time to updated our list of the best strikers in the league right now.
The list will factor in past performance, but since sports are all about what you are doing right here and right now, the rankings will naturally be skewed more towards recent performances. So buckle up.
10. Igor Thiago, Brentford
One of the underrated transfers of the summer market, Igor Thiago has taken well to life at Brentford, filling a void left by the great goal-scorers at the club of the past few years: Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo, and Yoane Wissa.
The 24-year-old has two goals in four games and fits the profile Brentford want as a well-rounded player who isn’t afraid to drop deep, split wide, take defenders on, and create chances for his teammates.
9. Evanilson, Bournemouth
Evanilson is another player who is easy to underrate, but with how exciting he is on the counter and his explosive playing style, Bournemouth’s latest breakout attacking star shouldn’t be overlooked for much longer.
Even though he’s only scored one goal in four games this season, Evanilson has been a massive factor for the Cherries all-around with 1.5 key passes and 1.8 fouls drawn per game. He is a nightmare for defenders to cope with on the ball.
8. Richarlison, Tottenham
After a dud of a game against Bournemouth, Tottenham got back on track with a 3-0 derby win over a listless West Ham. Richarlison didn’t start the game, but with how good he looked in the first two Matchdays and his past track record when healthy, he maintains a spot in eighth.
7. Chris Wood, Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood’s all-around game has honestly been very disappointing to start the season, and while he does have two goals in four games, both of those goals came on Matchday 1 against Brentford.
The big Australian striker was a ghost against Arsenal, and he’s been poor for three straight games now. Last season’s 20-goal breakout superstar is still one of the top strikers in the Premier League, but he’s not top five anymore.
6. Nick Woltemade, Newcastle
A real wild card, Nick Woltemade joined Newcastle this summer for a huge price tag as an emergency Alexander Isak replacement, but the talented German No. 9 showed that he has world-class potential in his own right with a matchwinning debut against Wolves, scoring while playing a good all-around game.
5. Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool
Hugo Ekitike will have to take a backseat soon to Isak, but there’s no question that he’s a top five striker in the Premier League right now. He has been consistent all-around for Liverpool since Matchday 1 with two goals and an assist in four games while averaging a whopping 1.5 dribbles completed per game.
4. Viktor Gyokeres, Arsenal
Don’t look now, but Viktor Gyokeres has now scored three goals in four games for Arsenal after popping up with another one against Nottingham Forest this weekend, and only fellow Scandinavian superstar Erling Haaland has more Premier League goals through four Matchdays,
Gyokeres is doing a lot better than rival fanbases want you to think, and when Martin Odegaard wakes up and Bukayo Saka gets healthy, the Swedish international could really explode.
3. Alexander Isak, Liverpool
Alexander Isak has to watch his six, because the Premier League is rapidly becoming a haven for great young strikers. The best striker in the league last season, Isak has his work cut out for him to reclaiming the top spot over Haaland, but with the supporting cast he has at Liverpool, I wouldn’t go out of my way to doubt him.
2. Joao Pedro, Chelsea
In a vacuum, I don’t think I’d rank Joao Pedro over Alexander Isak, but because this list is skewed towards how players are performing right now, the new Chelsea No. 9 has to be no lower than second on the list.
He’s been arguably the best player in the league thus far, producing all-around performances of the highest quality. Pedro’s greatness is being truly unlocked on a stacked Chelsea roster, and he’s such a unique weapon with his ability to drop deep and playmake. His footballing IQ is off the charts.
1. Erling Haaland, Manchester City
But honestly, you’d have to be kidding yourself to rank Erling Haaland anywhere other than first. He is the best pure goal-scoring weapon in the world, and even when Manchester City aren’t playing all that well in midfield, Haaland still gets his.
He tore Manchester United to shreds in the derby and is now sitting on five goals in four Premier League matches to open the campaign. Haaland is a shark sniffing a mere splash of a goal and capitalizing with clinical efficiency of the highest order.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2011. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has contributed to sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. Joe’s work has appeared in ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling, respectively.