20) West Brom – Peter Odemwingie, Geoff Horsfield, Robbie Earnshaw
This poll has arguably come a little too early for Saido Berahino to be included, so instead the trio selected is Peter Odemwingie, Geoff Horsfield, and Robbie Earnshaw. While the Nigerian is the top scorer of the three with 30 goals in the top flight, the other two will hold a special place among Baggies fans. When Bryan Robson’s men pulled off the great escape during the 2004/05 season, Horsfield scored one of the crucial goals against Portsmouth on the final day, while Earnshaw had scored the equaliser at Old Trafford the previous week to keep their hopes of survival alive.
19) Bolton Wanderers – Kevin Davies, Nicolas Anelka, Henrik Pedersen
Although he was only with the Trotters for a brief period of time, Nicolas Anelka was surely the most lethal forward Bolton have ever had in the Premier League. The move in 2006 allowed the Frenchman to rebuild his career, and following a couple of excellent years, he got another shot at the big time when Chelsea came calling.
Meanwhile, Kevin Davies spent a lot longer with the club, and made over 350 league appearances. He would find the back of the net on 74 occasions.
And it’s safe to say that Henrik Pedersen hasn’t made this list on goalscoring alone, having only scored 22 times in 143 games. However, he was part of the side that cemented themselves as regulars in the top flight, as was Michael Ricketts, who surely has more reason to be included than his former teammate.
18) Leicester City – Emile Heskey, Steve Claridge, Tony Cottee
It’s very difficult to dispute the selection of Emile Heskey or Tony Cottee, who both had little problem finding the back of the net at Filbert Street. However, to say that Steve Claridge is one of Leicester’s best in the Premier League era is quite difficult to agree with. Les Ferdinand for example – who scored 12 goals in 29 games during the 2003/04 season – definitely has a claim to be included.
However, Foxes fans will just be delighted that Ade Akinbiyi has not been shortlisted.
17) Coventry City – Dion Dublin, Darren Huckerby, Peter Ndlovu
Although they haven’t been in the Premier League for over a decade, Coventry were once one of the more exciting teams in the top flight, even if that style failed to translate into any kind of success. In the one season that the trio were together – 1996/97 – the Sky Blues narrowly avoided relegation, with Dublin scoring 14 goals. While the other two weren’t as productive in front of goal, they embodied the free-flowing style that helped the club remain in the top flight right until 2001.
16) Middlesbrough – Hamilton Ricard, Yakubu, Fabrizio Ravanelli
Very few strikers have made an impact on their Premier League debut quite like Fabrizio Ravanelli. The Italian bagged a hat-trick against Liverpool on the opening day of the 1996/97 season, although he was ultimately unable to prevent them being relegated at the end of the year.
Once they returned, it was Hamilton Ricard who led the line for Boro, and became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer in the Premier League.
Yakubu was nearly as productive as the Colombian, thus earns his place in the trio.
15) Fulham – Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride, Louis Saha
Louis Saha’s goals helped send the Cottagers to the Premier League, and kept them there for a couple of seasons before earning a move to Manchester United.
And while the American duo came later, they were equally impressive for the London side, scoring over 80 league goals between them.
14) Everton – Duncan Ferguson, Wayne Rooney, Kevin Campbell
Although Wayne Rooney may be the superstar among the three, there is little doubt that he would have been coming through the Toffees’ academy with the club in a lower level if it hadn’t been for the goals of Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell in the 1990s. And as the current Manchester United man was still a prospect when he left Goodison Park, there is definitely an argument to say that Tim Cahill could be included.
13) Sunderland – Kevin Phillips, Niall Quinn, Darren Bent
The partnership of Phillips and Quinn was pivotal to Sunderland’s successful Premier League campaign of 1999/00. Phillips finished the season as the division’s top goalscorer, with his tally of 30 strikes putting him seven clear of Alan Shearer.
Ever since then, the Black Cats have been desperately searching for a pair that enjoys an equal amount of success, with little luck so far. Darren Bent did a great job during his two years at the Stadium of Light. However, since the former England striker’s departure, they have once again struggled to find a replacement.
12) Aston Villa – Dwight Yorke, Dion Dublin, Christian Benteke
Although they’ve had some close shaves in the last few years, the Villains are one of the league’s ever presents since 1992, and so it is unsurprising that they’ve had some great strikers down the years. Dwight Yorke is arguably the greatest to have graced Villa Park in that time, scoring nearly 100 goals during his time with the Midlands side. And having been brought in to replace the Trinidad and Tobago man, Dion Dublin managed to continue some of that success, as John Gregory’s men led the league table for much of the 1998/99 season.
While Christian Benteke has enjoyed some successful patches of form recently, Villa fans may argue that Juan Pablo Angel deserves to be included.
11) West Ham United – Paolo Di Canio, Tony Cottee, Carlos Tevez
While there can be little argument about either of the first two names on the list, perhaps Carlos Tevez is a romantic suggestion. His goals may have saved the Hammers from the drop in his only season at the Boleyn Ground, but only after he endured a dry spell that had left them in serious danger.
Having said that, the likes of Jermain Defoe and Carlton Cole – who scored on more occasions than the Argentinian – would not get a look in if it was down to West Ham fans.
10) Southampton – Marian Pahars, Matt Le Tissier, James Beattie
For the majority of his career, Matt Le Tissier was the sole reason that the Saints stayed in the top flight for as long as they did. Luckily, by the time age started to catch up on him, Southampton had unveiled a cluster of exciting strikers including Egil Ostenstad, Kevin Davies, Marian Pahars, and James Beattie. The latter two were arguably the best, and remain incredibly popular on the south coast.
9) Tottenham Hotspur – Teddy Sheringham, Robbie Keane, Dimitar Berbatov
While Jermain Defoe can feel slightly aggrieved not to be included in West Ham’s trio, he arguably has the right to feel cheated not to be in Tottenham’s three. Although Teddy Sheringham and Robbie Keane’s selection are not that contentious, the Bulgarian’s selection seems quite bizarre, especially when you consider that as well as Defoe, Spurs have had Jurgen Klinsmann and Les Ferdinand among others.
8) Manchester City – Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Shaun Goater
No club has experienced a change down the years quite like Manchester City. When Shaun Goater was playing for the Citizens, they were trying to stabilise in the top flight, having been an extreme yo-yo club around the Millennium. His goals cemented them as a Premier League side, and he cemented himself as a City hero by scoring twice in the Manchester derby in 2002.
And while Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez have scored massive goals for the club more recently, there was a charm about Goater’s career that makes him their ultimate forward.
7) Blackburn Rovers – Alan Shearer, Chris Sutton, Kevin Gallacher
With Blackburn’s recent history being blighted by boardroom issues, there is little question which era you would have to look to to find their ultimate front three. The Ewood Park side shocked the footballing world when they clinched the Premier League title in 1995, and while they didn’t have the superstars of Manchester United’s team of the time, they boasted one of the most ruthless forward duos in the Premier League’s history. Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton managed 49 goals between them that season, and when one wasn’t available, Kevin Gallacher was more than capable of filling in.
6) Leeds United – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tony Yeboah, Mark Viduka
With Leeds languishing in the second division, remembering the impact these three players had during their respective times at Elland Road inevitably brings back painful memories. Both Yeboah and Hasselbaink were capable of bursting the net with thunderbolt strikes, while Mark Viduka had something of an elegance about his game. The Australian came closest to enjoying the glory that the Whites threatened briefly, but the other two – Yeboah especially – brought an excitement that the Yorkshire club have not seen since.
5) Chelsea – Didier Drogba, Gianfranco Zola, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Despite the fact that they didn’t have any luck in the league until the 2004/05 season, the Blues have had some of the most exciting players to have graced the Premier League, including Gianluca Vialli and Ruud Gullit. Without doubt, Gianfranco Zola was one of the classiest players to play in England, which perfectly complimented Hasselbaink’s power.
Meanwhile, Didier Drogba has been a pivotal part of Chelsea’s success in recent years, helping them to a Champions League title, as well as several league crowns.
4) Newcastle United – Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Andy Cole
Given the quality of Newcastle’s players down the years, especially up front, it is criminal that they haven’t added anything to their trophy cabinet since 1955. In Alan Shearer, they boast the league’s all-time leading goalscorer, with the majority of his goals coming for the Magpies. And he was perfectly complimented by the hard-working Les Ferdinand. But, if Shearer had been coupled with Andy Cole, it is difficult to imagine how they couldn’t win the title.
3) Manchester United – Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy
Amazingly, none of the quartet that guided the side to the treble in 1999 make the shortlist. Arguably however, that is down to the longevity that Rooney, Ronaldo, and van Nistelrooy boast, which only Andy Cole can really compete with. While the latter two of the trio blasted goals in for fun during their spells at Old Trafford, Rooney’s consistent returns could see him compete with Alan Shearer for the all-time leading goalscorer.
2) Arsenal – Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp
Few clubs are blessed with a talisman that comes almost instantly after the previous one. However, that fortune befell the Gunners as Thierry Henry joined the side a year after Ian Wright had departed. And the Frenchman would go on to overtake Wright as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer. And both players’ success was largely thanks to Dennis Bergkamp, who lay chances on a plate in every single game he played.
1) Liverpool – Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres, Robbie Fowler
While little question can be raised about Fowler’s and Suarez’s inclusion, it was fair to say that Fernando Torres endured long spells of poor form while he was still at Anfield. For that reason, it seems incredibly difficult to argue that the Reds should be as high on the list as they actually are. On reflection, a Manchester United trio including Andy Cole instead of Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Arsenal’s front three have a genuine claim to be placed higher than the Merseyside three.
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