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The Premier League is regarded as one of the most competitive leagues in the world. Some of the best players in the world have played and continue to play in England's top division.
With some fine creators and goal-scorers present with English clubs, there has been no shortage of goals. Players playing in the Premier League have also been actively involved in goals in other tournaments and are quite effective at that.
Top-quality Premier League players who have had a wonderful 2021
Some of the current Premier League players weren't playing in England in the first half of 2021. Nonetheless, those top players have been instrumental in bringing goals across most competitions for their previous clubs.
On that note, we take a look at those high-quality players. The list involves goals created and scored in Europe's top five leagues, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and National Cups.
Note: All stats are as per Transfermarkt.
#5 Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, Inter Milan)
Romelu Lukaku will remember the year 2021 for a long time. The Belgian striker won the 2020-21 Serie A title with Inter Milan - the first major silverware of his football career.
Despite winning the league in Italy, Lukaku decided to return to Chelsea in the summer transfer window this year. He scored 24 league goals last season for Inter Milan and the same was expected of him with the Blues.
Although his form hasn't reached the level it was at Inter, Lukaku has been decent for the Blues, scoring seven goals in 18 appearances across competitions. With 22 goals and 10 assists, the 28-year old has contributed 32 goals in 2021 and will be hoping to get more involvement next year.
#4 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)
The defending Premier League champions Manchester City have great squad depth. They have two amazing options for almost every position on the pitch.
This has made it difficult for Riyad Mahrez to start regularly, yet he's one of their most important players. The Algerian made 23 starts in the 2020-21 season, scoring nine goals and recording six assists.
His role in the ongoing campaign has been much more important.
Riyad Mahrez has chipped in with some important and timely goals in the Premier League, registering crucial wins for Manchester City.
The 30-year old winger has scored 21 goals and recorded 13 assists in 2021, contributing 34 goals in the process. With the departure of Ferran Torres to Barcelona, the Algerian should have more game time going forward.
#3 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
The Premier League has had one hell of a playmaker in Bruno Fernandes ever since he joined Manchester United in 2019. His creativity and desire to find goals time and again have been of immense help to the Red Devils.
In his first full season last season, Bruno Fernandes scored 18 goals and recorded 12 assists in the Premier League. It speaks volumes about the Portuguese's capabilities given how Manchester United have struggled with inconsistency. He made 94 key passes in the league last season, the most by any player.
Although he hasn't been at his best in the 2021-22 campaign, Bruno Fernandes still has five goals and three assists to his name. The dynamic midfielder has scored 19 goals and made 18 assists in 2021, totalling to 37 goal contributions this calendar year.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus, Manchester United)
In the first half of 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo was still a Juventus player. The Portuguese ended the 2020-21 season with the Old Lady as their top goal-scorer with 29 goals in Serie A.
The summer transfer window of the 2021-22 season saw Cristiano Ronaldo mark a return to Manchester United. The right-footed forward didn't take much time to settle and has had a strong impact with the Red Devils. He's already scored eight goals in the Premier League and has been United's messiah in the Champions League more often than not.
Cristiano Ronaldo is currently Manchester United's top goal-scorer and is being looked upon to lead the attack. The Portuguese captain scored 34 goals and registered seven assists this calendar year, contributing 41 goals in 2021 at the age of 36.
#1 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
There is no better player in the Premier League right now than Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian winger continues to take the league by storm with some phenomenal performances in front of goal.
The Liverpool forward has 110 Premier League goals to his name in the five seasons he's been with the Reds. With 22 league goals last season, Mohamed Salah narrowly missed winning the Premier League Golden Boot. He's already scored 15 goals in 19 league games in the 2021-22 season.
Using his mind-boggling dribbling and clinical goal-scoring abilities, Mohamed Salah has been brutal in the attack. The Egyptian has contributed 37 goals and 11 assists in 2021, taking his total involvement to 48 goals in 2021, the most by any player in England's top-tier league.
