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In Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane and Alvaro Morata, the Premier League has continued its tradition of having the most dynamic and exciting strikers season upon season. The Premier League's top marksmen have enthralled viewers across the world with their stunning abilities in front of goal.
Aguero and Kane currently lead the scoring charts with 8 goals apiece, with Lukaku and Morata not far behind. With the 4 strikers playing a key role in their respective team's presence in the top 4, most of the discussion this season has surrounded their exploits.
In the midst of the seemingly endless comparisons between the best men leading the line in the league, however, some performances unfairly go unnoticed. While some of these players are forced to dwell in the shadow of their more illustrious teammates, the others are single-handedly carrying their rather mediocre squads to some impressive victories.
Here is a look at 5 forwards, currently plying their trade in the Premier League, whose performances are often overlooked.
#5 Tammy Abraham (Swansea City)
Chelsea have an incredibly potent attack, with Eden Hazard, Pedro and Alvaro Morata among others in the starting eleven. Problems arise, however, when these players are injured. With Michy Batshuayi blowing hot and cold so far this season, Chelsea don't have the best possible options on the bench. The team was visibly struggling when Alvaro Morata was injured.
This is where Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham comes into the picture. Several Chelsea fans were left perplexed when the striker was loaned out to Swansea City. Abraham has scored 4 goals so far this season and has registered one assist.
The 20-year-old has started 10 games in the league at Swansea, and it is probably best for him to extend his loan spell at the club to hold down a regular starting role. With Swansea in the relegation zone, however, Abraham will have to further improve if they are to stay on in the top flight this season.
His excellent performances also earned him a call-up to the English national side. His performance against Germany, however, was a let-down, as he struggled against Hummels and Rudiger. But with age on his side, Abraham is sure to feature regularly for the national team in future.
#4 Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion)
A club that secured promotion to the Premier League promotion for the first time in its history generally sets its expectations at staying in the top flight for the first season at least, but Brighton and Hove Albion have surprised everyone this season. The club find themselves in an impressive 8th position in the league table, and have won as many games as they have lost so far.
Club veteran Glenn Murray has been instrumental in his side's successes this season. The former Crystal Palace striker has scored 4 goals in 5 starts for the newly promoted club, and has displayed a knack for scoring important match-winning goals for his side.
At 34 years of age, Murray has understandably been unable to start every game this season, and will take some time to get used to the rigours of the English top flight. His performances and contributions, however, have been extremely commendable.
Murray scored his first goal in the Premier League since December 2015 when Brighton beat on West Ham United and followed it up with a penalty to bag a brace in what has been his best performance so far this season.
Chris Hughton's side have difficult fixtures against Manchester United and Liverpool in the coming weeks, so they'll need their leading goalscorer fit and firing if they are to prove a match for the Premier League giants.
#3 Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City)
In a team boasting Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante, Shinji Okazaki was something of an unsung hero in Leicester City's sensational Premier League triumph in 2016. Under Claudio Ranieri's leadership, Okazaki matured as a player in a season that was nothing short of incredible for the club.
Okazaki has always had to fight for his place in the starting lineup. His appearances up front this season have been limited by the presence of Islam Slimani and Kelechi Iheanacho, but when played, Okazaki almost always has a positive effect on his side's style of play. He came on in the second half against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup clash, to score one goal and assist another, and led his side to a 2-0 victory.
Okazaki has started only 7 games for the club this season but has already scored 4 goals for the club. He is a regular starter with the Japanese national side and is a prolific goalscorer for them. While he may not be as prolific at Leicester City, his performances do warrant a regular starting place in the side.
Leicester City are currently 12th in the league table, and have been unable to replicate their form of the past seasons. The underperforming team will need Okazaki at his best if they are to prove to their fans that they are not the stereotypical one season wonder.
#2 Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
Of all the teams in the Premier League, Liverpool is arguably the most intriguing. For a team that boasts the incredible attacking that they possess, Liverpool find themselves 5th in the table and have had some unflattering results so far this season.
Often overshadowed by his more charismatic teammates -- Mohammad Salah, Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho -- Roberto Firmino has been an integral part of the attacking machine Jurgen Klopp is trying to create at Anfield. Starting as a regular ahead of Daniel Sturridge, the 26-year-old Brazilian did endure a difficult spell earlier in the year but is now beginning to prove his worth to the team.
“When Roberto is not good, he’s not bad. He’s just not at his best. He’s still working hard", said Klopp, in response to questions regarding Firmino's lack of goals earlier in the season. With 3 goals apiece in the Premier League and the Champions League, it bodes well for Klopp and Liverpool that Firmino is beginning to regain some much-needed confidence.
Arguably the hardest worker in Liverpool's talented forward line, an in-form Firmino alongside Salah, Mane and Coutinho will be terribly difficult to deal with for any Premier League defence. With Liverpool beginning to pick up some form, fans of the club will be hoping to see the Brazilian back to his best this season.
#1 Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal)
For a striker who has scored 6 goals in 9 starts in the Premier League, it is surprising that there is little to no talk about Alexandre Lacazette's exploits this season. The striker has been in good goalscoring touch this season and is a crucial part of Arsene Wenger's side.
The former Ligue 1 player of the year has made substantial contributions to Arsenal so far this season, and fans will be hoping that he takes it up a notch in games to come. Lacazette's form also seems to be improving, as evidenced by his 2 goals against a solid Germany defence in what was arguably his best match for France.
The former Lyon hitman has had an excellent 2017, scoring 30 goals in all competitions so far for club and country. His best performance for Arsenal was against West Bromwich Albion, in which he scored 2 goals to secure 3 points for his side.
Competition for the striker's role is fierce at Arsenal, with Olivier Giroud, Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck and Lacazette himself vying to start for the team alongside Alexis Sanchez. The Frenchman has done well for himself and the team so far, and can potentially play a crucial role for Arsenal in the coming seasons.
