A look at the top 10 strikers from the Premier League’s likely top seven clubs.
All stats courtesy of WhoScored.com.
10. Javier Hernandez (Conversion rate: 16.7%)
In the recent absence of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, the Mexican must have been furious to have been overlooked in favour of Danny Welbeck but there appears to be method to David Moyes’ thinking. Poacher Hernandez has made a career of lurking on the last defender and grabbing a goal from nothing but Chicarito’s deadly finishing has deserted him this season, with just two Premier League goals to his name from 14 appearances (ten have, admittedly, come from the bench), with a chance conversion rate of 16.7%. With Van Persie and Rooney due to return from injury and Danny Welbeck impressing, Hernandez may find his chances even more limited in the second half of the campaign.
9. Wayne Rooney (16.7%)
In a glum campaign thus far, the excellence of Wane Rooney has been a major plus for Manchester United and David Moyes. After netting just 12 league goals last term, Rooney is already on nine under Moyes, despite being restricted to 16 starts amid a series of niggling injuries. With Robin Van Persie and Danny Welbeck impressing, Rooney has found himself playing in a deeper, attacking midfield role but it has not limited the England star’s effectiveness in front of goal, and it is often hard to escape the feeling that Roo is a class above his United teammates, particularly when Van Persie is unfit.
8. Samuel Eto’o (17.6%)
Before Sunday’s hat-trick against Manchester United, the Cameroonian’s stats were looking decidedly ropey. But after a brilliant treble and a superb performance, Eto’o now boasts six league goals from just eight starts and is beginning to justify Jose Mourinho’s decision to sign him (whilst allowing Romelu Lukaku to leave for Everton on loan). That said, the 32-year-old has scored every one of his Chelsea goals at Stamford Bridge and still looks uncomfortable and erratic on away days.
7. Robin van Persie (21.2%)
It is testament to the Dutchman’s quality that he seems to have barely played (or at least not had a run of games ) and yet still features in almost all discussions about the league’s deadliest finishers. Van Persie has managed just 11 appearances for United amid a series of injuries, but boasts seven goals, including the winner against former club Arsenal. With Luis Suarez streets ahead of the chasing pack and showing no signs of slowing, it would take a miracle for Van Persie to claim a third consecutive Golden Boot but his return from injury next month will be vital to United’s hopes of finishing in the top four.
6. Sergio Aguero (21.5%)
With Luis Suarez the talk of the town, Aguero’s performances have perhaps earned less attention than they should have. The Argentine has been scintillating for Manuel Pellegrini’s monstrously good City side, averaging nearly a goal a game with 14 from 15 appearances so far. With Alvaro Negredo occupying the central striker role, Aguero has dropped deeper in many matches but has been just as effective, forming a deadly partnership with the Spaniard.
5. Luis Suarez (22.9%)
The Liverpool forward already boasts a remarkable 22 goals in 17 league games, which would have been enough to earn him the Golden Boot in 10 of the Premier League’s 26 seasons. At his current rate, the 26-year-old scores a goal every 69 minutes of league football, illustrating how far he has come since his first season-and-a-half at Anfield, when he had a reputation for being a wasteful and erratic finisher. But it is testament to how many chances Suarez creates – and still misses – that he is only the fifth most lethal striker in terms of chance conversion in the Premier League top seven; and amazingly, he is not even the deadliest forward at Liverpool…
4. Daniel Sturridge (23.4%)
Suarez’s strike partner has naturally been overshadowed by the Uruguayan hit-man but Sturridge has been more lethal in front of goal than his more illustrious teammate, converting a higher percentage of his chances whilst bagging 11 league goals in just 12 starts. It has been particularly impressive to see the England striker find the net against both Stoke and Aston Villa this month, after missing the whole of the December and the start of 2014 through injury. And it’s worth noting that of the players from the likely top seven who have played at least ten league games, Sturridge is actually second on this list, with Suarez third… Liverpool have a duo to be reckoned with.
3. Danny Welbeck (24.2%)
Despite being trusted by Sir Alex Ferguson in many of Manchester United’s biggest matches last season, Welbeck was much-maligned by fans and the media alike after scoring just one league goal in 27 appearances as United coasted to the title. This term, it has been a different story and for the all the criticism aimed at David Moyes, Welbeck’s improvement in front of goal should go down as a triumph for the Scot. The England striker already has eight goals to his name from just 12 starts – and this is despite being asked to play a wide left role when Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have been fit. With the duo currently sidelined, Welbeck has made the centre forward role his own ahead of Javier Hernandez and, while the Red Devils midfield looks weak, they have some superb options up front.
2. Nicklas Bendtner (25%)
The Dane has been the butt of many jokes about weight, dismal finishing and general rubbishness but remarkably finds himself with the second highest chance conversion rate of players from the top seven clubs. Bendtner has scored just twice – the joint lowest on this list with Hernandez – from eight appearances, only one of which was a start, but has managed to put away 25% of his chances. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that Bendtner has only had eight chances but with Arsenal showing no signs of landing a new striker this month or Theo Walcott ruled out for the season, Bendtner shoul get plenty more opportunities in the second half of the campaign.
1. Emmanuel Adebayor (33.3%)
The Togolese striker is the talk of the town at present after another brace against Swansea at the weekend moved him to five league goals in seven appearances since Tim Sherwood took over at Spurs. After being completely ignored by Andre Villas-Boas, Adebayor has been like a new signing for the North London club and, in terms of chance conversion, is way out ahead of the chasing pack with 33.3%. That said, Adebayor is notoriously temperamental and inconsistent, so there is plenty of time for his old habits to return before the end of the campaign.