Premier League magic unfolds as players elevate their teams with dazzling displays and reshaping the contours of modern football. LUCKY OLUOCH writes.
1.Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Erling Haaland, the Ballon d’Or runner-up and the current best number nine globally, continues to shine this season. The Manchester City forward has netted 13 goals and provided 3 assists, totalling 16 goal contributions. His last appearance in the competition was on November 12 against Chelsea, scoring twice and assisting in a 4-4 draw. Haaland’s inaugural league goals this season occurred in a 3-0 win against Burnley on August 11, where he scored twice. Haaland made a positive impression on his league debut for Manchester City on August 7, 2022.
The attacker netted a brace in his opening game in the competition versus West Ham United, at the age of 22 years and 17 days. So far in his Premier League career, he has appeared 47 times in the competition, with 49 goals scored and 11 assists. Expect him to potentially surpass his own single-season goal record by the campaign’s end.
2.Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah, already a top-ten Premier League footballer of all time, continues to solidify his legacy as a true great this season. His 14 goal contributions, comprising 4 assists and 10 goals, elevate Liverpool’s status as genuine title contenders. Salah’s recent appearance in the league was on November 12 against Brentford, where he scored a brace in a 3-0 victory. Across his Premier League career, Salah has amassed 243 matches, 149 goals, 63 assists, and received eight yellow cards without being sent off in 243 appearances.
3.Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Ollie Watkins, displaying exceptional form at the end of the 2022/23 season with 12 goals, continues to impress in the first months of 2023/24. His contributions of 6 goals, 5 assists - totalling to 11 contributions - elevate Aston Villa’s standing in the league. Watkins’ recent league game was on November 12 against Fulham, scoring in a 3-1 triumph. Since moving to Aston Villa in September 2020 from Brentford, he has amassed 135 league appearances, scoring 46 goals and providing 13 assists.
4.Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tasked with becoming Tottenham’s key player post-Harry Kane’s departure, Son Heung-min has embraced the challenge admirably. His 8 crucial goals this season, including a notable brace against Arsenal, mark the highlight of his 2023/24 campaign. Son’s last goal came on October 27 in a 2-1 win against Crystal Palace, opening his tally in a 5-2 victory against Burnley on September 2. Since joining Tottenham Hotspur from Bayer Leverkusen in August 2015, Son has amassed 62 league appearances, scoring 21 goals and providing six assists.
5.Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United)
Jarrod Bowen’s transformation into a lethal striker for West Ham stems from his significant goal in the UEFA Europa Conference League final. Previously a winger, Bowen now thrives as a sharpshooter for David Moyes’ squad, even playing as a forward lately. His recent goal was on November 12 against Nottingham Forest in a 3-2 win. In the previous season, Bowen made 38 Premier League appearances for West Ham United, scoring six goals and providing five assists since joining from Hull City in January 2020, where he had 124 league appearances, scoring 52 goals and assisting 12 times.
6.Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)
Bryan Mbeumo’s contributions of 6 goals, 2 assists, and 8 total goal involvements have kept Brentford’s attack potent in the 2023/24 season. Despite a recent loss to Liverpool on November 12, Mbeumo’s 90-minute display showcased his ongoing impact.
Last season, he appeared in 38 Premier League matches, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists since his move from Troyes to Brentford in August 2019, having made 42 league appearances, scoring 11 goals, and assisting three times.
7.Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Remarkably, Bukayo Saka maintains his consistent form with 4 goals, 4 assists - totalling to 8 goal contributions - in the first 11 games of this season, mirroring his previous season’s output of 25 contributions. His recent assist on November 11 contributed to Arsenal’s 3-1 win. Saka debuted in the Premier League on January 1, 2019, tallying 146 appearances, 35 goals, and 30 assists for Arsenal.
8.Darwin Núñez (Liverpool)
Darwin Nunez’s unpredictability on the field makes him a significant presence for Liverpool, contributing 8 goal involvements this season. In the recent game against Brentford on November 12, Núñez provided an assist in a 3-0 win. His previous season at Liverpool saw him play 29 Premier League games, scoring nine goals and assisting three times.
Prior to his move to Liverpool in June 2022, Núñez made 57 appearances for Benfica, scoring 32 goals and providing 13 assists.
9.James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tottenham’s acquisition of James Maddison for £40m from Leicester City proves to be a stellar move. Maddison’s exceptional contributions to his new side elevated them to an early title challenge before his unfortunate injury. His recent appearance was on November 6 against Chelsea, where he played 45 minutes in a 4-1 loss.
In the previous Premier League season, Maddison featured in 30 games for Leicester City, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists. He arrived at Tottenham in June 2023 from Leicester City, amassing 163 league appearances, 43 goals, and 32 assists.
10.Julian Álvarez (Manchester City)
Transitioning into an attacking midfield role, Julian Alvarez has been one of Manchester City’s standout performers this season, contributing consistently in the final third with four goals and four assists. His recent appearance was on November 12 against Chelsea, playing 79 minutes in a 4-4 draw. Álvarez’s recent goal was on October 21 in a 2-1 win against Brighton & Hove Albion.
, inaugurating his campaign with a goal against Newcastle United on August 19. After a loan spell at River Plate, Álvarez rejoined Manchester City in July 2022, amassing 74 league appearances, 34 goals, and 18 assists.
