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The Premier League is one of the most exciting football leagues in the world and has been home to some of the best strikers of the modern era. The English top-flight has also earned a reputation for being one of the world's most competitive and physically challenging leagues.
Players are constantly forced to improve and reinvent themselves. To add to that, the 2020-21 season has had its own unique set of challenges. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, players weren't afforded much of a break in-between seasons and the absence of supporters in the stands made things all the more difficult.
The Premier League has a raft of talented young strikers
It was a season where we saw teams and players go through several ups and downs. The individuals who were able to leave their mark on such a campaign have proven their quality beyond doubt. Without further ado, let's take a look at the five best strikers in the Premier League in the 2020-21 season.
#5 Edinson Cavani (Manchester United)
Manchester United signed free-agent Edinson Cavani on deadline day last summer. The Uruguayan striker was released by Paris Saint-Germain after the 2019/20 season.
He came to the Premier League after not having played for close to seven months as Ligue 1 was cut short in the wake of the pandemic. Despite being written off as a 'panic buy' who was at Old Trafford to fill his coffers, Cavani showed that he was hungry to prove himself in England.
His entry to the side was delayed due to an injury problem. But it didn't take Cavani long to become an important part of the squad. The 34-year-old is one of the most natural no. 9s of his generation. His movement and aerial ability made the difference for Manchester United on a number of occasions in the 2020-21 season.
Cavani scored 10 goals and provided three assists in 26 Premier League appearances. Interestingly, only 13 of them were starts. He added immensely to the Red Devils' all-round play as well and has been rewarded with a one-year extension which he seemed glad to sign.
#4 Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Aston Villa broke their club transfer record to sign Ollie Watkins from Brentford. Dean Smith's men were in desperate need of more quality all around the pitch after surviving the drop by the skin of their teeth in the 2019-20 season.
Watkins has proved he has a lot to offer and seemed unfazed by the fact that it was his first season in the English top-flight. He combined well with Jack Grealish as the duo struck up a menacing partnership. Aston Villa played much of the season like a team that belonged to the top half of the table.
Even in Grealish's absence, Watkins continued to shine. He finished the 2020-21 season with 14 goals and five assists to his name.
#3 Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton)
There could be an argument made that Dominic Calvert-Lewin's form tailed off in the second half of the season and it won't be far from the truth. But it's also true that he was one of the best strikers in the Premier League in the first few months of the 2020-21 season.
The Everton striker was so good early on in the season that after his hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion in September, Carlo Ancelotti likened him to Filippo Inzaghi. While he has a long way to go before he lives up to that comparison, the Englishman has proved to be a credible threat inside the box.
The 24-year-old's aerial ability has earned him plenty of praise. His leap is quite extraordinary and if he can improve his awareness and movement, he can go on to become a top striker in the years to come.
Calvert-Lewin ended the 2020-21 season with 16 goals from 33 appearances in the Premier League.
#2 Patrick Bamford (Leeds United)
Patrick Bamford has every right to feel aggrieved about having been omitted from the 33-man provisional squad for the Euros. The Leeds United striker arguably made his case in the best manner possible this term.
There were apprehensions about Bamford's ability to lead Leeds United's talented attack in the English top-flight. But the 27-year-old scored 17 goals and also provided seven assists this campaign. He was arguably Marcelo Bielsa's most important player on the pitch as well.
Bamford is neither as pacy as one would expect a Premier League striker to be nor does he come across as being sturdy. But he is neat with the ball at his feet and his intelligent movement and ability to combine with the other forwards have contributed greatly to his success in the 2020-21 season.
#1 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Harry Kane has proved yet again that he is one of the best strikers in the world. He has been a rare bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming season for Tottenham Hotspur.
The Englishman once again led from the front and it was clear to see that he has added so much more to his game than his finishing, which has always been top-notch.
Kane scored 23 goals and provided 14 assists in the league. He has won the Premier League Golden Boot and the Playmaker award for his contributions this term.
The 27-year-old is clearly at the peak of his career and it is not surprising that he has informed Spurs he intends to leave the club due to the severe lack of trophies in his career.
