Welcome to the Sportskeeda Power Ranking of attackers in the Premier League. The ranking is done after every gameweek on a cumulative basis to decipher the final top 10 come May. The main criteria for ranking the players is their contribution to goals, either by scoring them, or creating them which includes deflections and penalties won as well.
When two or more players are involved in an equal number of goals, the type of assist (direct or deflected), the importance of the goal/assist, the consistency in performances and the minutes per goal/assist is considered to rank them.
So, a player scoring/assisting in three consecutive games will have a higher ranking than a player picking the same number of goals/assists in one game and drawing blanks in the rest. Similarly, a player scoring winning goals, having better minutes per goal/assist will occupy a higher position.
Also Read – SK Power Ranking: Top 10 EPL attackers – Gameweek 23
The power rankings further act as a guide for players of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) because the list consists of the most consistent players, as well as relevant statistics for fantasy managers to act upon.
Firstly, the previous Gameweek’s poll on the best attacker for Gameweek 23 was swept away by Manchester City’s latest addition Gabriel Jesus, who captured 59% of the votes. He scored and assisted a goal apiece on his league debut to clinch the votes. You can vote for this week’s best attacker at the end of the article.
Gameweek 24 saw Liverpool slump further with a loss to Hull City while Chelsea brushed aside Arsenal to make a huge step towards winning the title. Meanwhile, the relegation battle became interesting with Leicester City and Middlesbrough entering the fray.
This was a terrific gameweek for a number of attackers and as a result, there are a few shake-ups in the rankings.
Let us first take a look at the watchlist for the gameweek.
Watchlist:
Olivier Giroud
Gameweek 23 ranking – 10th
Despite scoring against Chelsea, it was too little too late for Arsenal and Olivier Giroud as Chelsea ran away 3-1 victors. A number of top performances displace the Frenchman from the top ten.
Michail Antonio
Gameweek 23 ranking – 9th
The West Ham player has been in good form in recent weeks but drawing a blank in an attacker-friendly week pushes him into the watchlist.
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Gameweek 23 ranking – Watchlist
Sigurdsson scored a superb goal from outside the box for Swansea against Manchester City to continue his recent resurgence in form. However, it was not sufficient for Swansea to come away with anything to show and nor was it sufficient for the Iceland international to enter the top ten.
Jermain Defoe
Gameweek 23 ranking – N/A
Sunderland’s talisman was in fine mettle against Crystal Palace in a battle between relegation-threatened teams as Defoe scored twice in a thumping 4-0 victory for David Moyes’ side. The result brings the Englishman back into the watchlist.
Ross Barkley
Gameweek 23 ranking – N/A
Barkley makes his first ever entry in the power ranking by getting his name into the watchlist with a fine performance for Everton against Bournemouth. He assisted one goal and then scored another that aids his cause in the attackers’ power ranking.
Now let’s take a look at the top 10 attackers on the completion of Gameweek 24.
#10 Ryan Fraser
Gameweek 23 ranking – 8th
Match performance – one assist and outscored by Everton
The Englishman has been putting up good performances this season and he picked up another assist with a teasing delivery into the box for Josh King to score his second goal, thereby bringing Bournemouth to 2-3. But Everton stepped up after that to thrash the Cherries 6-3 and extinguish any hopes.
The assist keeps Fraser in the top 10 but only just. He needs to keep performing consistently for a sustained run in the ranking.
Fantasy Tip – Fraser entertains the Manchester clubs in the next 3 fixtures and not picking him is a better decision despite his decent form.
#9 Diego Costa
Gameweek 23 ranking – Watchlist
Match performance – involved in two goals and helps Chelsea have one hand on the league title
Diego Costa caused Arsenal all sorts of problems in the match and was unlucky to not score a goal himself. However, he was involved in the first two goals scored by Chelsea.
The Spaniard’s bullet header ricocheted off the crossbar and fell for Marcos Alonso who opened the scoring foe the Blues in the first-half. In the second-half, his header contest with Laurent Koscielny set off Eden Hazard for a terrific solo goal and put Chelsea firmly in the driver’s seat for the match and the title. This sees Costa come up from the watchlist into the top 10.
Fantasy Tip – Diego Costa plays 6 of the bottom 12 teams in the next 6 games, which provide a great chance to score points.
#8 Cesc Fabregas
Gameweek 23 ranking – 7th
Match performance – one superb goal and continues to be an impact substitute
Cesc Fabregas continues to start on the bench for Chelsea but the reason he continues to stay in the power ranking is because of his knack of making every moment count when he is on the pitch.
Coming as a late substitute against Arsenal, the Chelsea playmaker was gifted a glorious chance when Petr Cech miskicked the ball into his path. The Spaniard duly obliged with a delightful lob into the net to score the 3rd goal for Antonio Conte’s side.
Fantasy Tip – Cesc Fabregas is a high-risk fantasy option given his playing minutes but continues to make every minute count.
#7 Raheem Sterling
Gameweek 23 ranking – 6th
Match performance – one goal contribution and becoming a key player for Manchester City
Raheem Sterling played a crucial part in Manchester City’s first goal against Swansea as he received David Silva’s pass inside the box before the ball was taken away by the Swansea defence only for Gabriel Jesus to tap home.
Despite the goal contribution, Sterling drops a rung due to the sheer goalscoring brilliance of the 6th placed attacker. Meanwhile, Manchester City’s win moves Pep Guardiola’s side into the top 4.
Fantasy Tip – Raheem Sterling faces Bournemouth and Sunderland in the next 2 fixtures and should be a good option to consider for reliable fantasy points.
#6 Romelu Lukaku
Gameweek 23 ranking – N/A
Match performance – four goals and league’s new top goalscorer
Romelu Lukaku’s quality has never been in question but his performances in the first-half of this season have come under criticism due to the lack of goals and work-rate. However, he has been in good form in recent weeks and re-stablished his credentials by putting Bournemouth to the sword at Goodison Park.
He opened the scoring for Everton in the first-half with a superb shot from the edge of the box. He was gifted his second goal when he intercepted a poor backpass and finished it with ease. He completed the hat-trick in the second-half after playing a one-two with Seamus Coleman. He then scored the fourth courtesy an outrageous backheel assist from Ross Barkley that let the Belgian through on goal and he applied the finishing touches.
The quartet of goals propel Lukaku straight to sixth place in this week’s power ranking and Everton boss Ronald Koeman will be hoping the form continues.
Fantasy Tip – Romelu Lukaku’s current form and upcoming fixtures against Middlesbrough and Sunderland make him an excellent option in attack.
#5 Harry Kane
Gameweek 23 ranking – 5th
Match performance – one penalty taken and Tottenham’s match-winner
Harry Kane bagged a goal by converting the penalty after Son Heung-min was brought down inside the Middlesbrough box. The goal is his ninth goal since gameweek 14 and it is more than any other player in the league in the same period.
The Spurs striker also scored another goal only for it to be ruled offside. The Englishman remains in 5th place as he continues to chase the top spot while Lukaku’s performances mean Kane needs to remain consistent to prevent himself from losing his spot.
Fantasy Tip – Harry Kane has been involved in 9 goals in his last 7 appearances.
#4 Dele Alli
Gameweek 23 ranking – 3rd
Match performance – no goal/assist and drops a spot
Dele Alli had multiple opportunities to contribute to a goal but unfortunately ended the game with none to show. He created a one on one chance for Son Heung-min in the early stages, which did not materialise into a goal, however. He had a good goalscoring chance in the first-half which he hit against the side-netting.
The blank pushes him down a spot in the power ranking and he would want to get back among the goals soon.
Fantasy Tip – Dele Alli has blanked in consecutive games for the first time since gameweek 16.
#3 Christian Eriksen
Gameweeks at top – 2
Gameweek 23 ranking – 2nd
Match performance – no goal/assist and continues to play well without results
Christian Eriksen had a good game for Tottenham against Middlesbrough, creating a superb chance for Dele Alli, delivering a good cross from a corner only for Toby Alderweireld to hit the post. He had another shot in the game that was saved by the keeper as well.
The Dane has been playing well but the lack of definitive goal contributions to show is hurting Mauricio Pochettino’s attack as well as Eriksen’s power ranking position.
Fantasy Tip – Christian Eriksen has failed to register a goal/assist for the third consecutive game.
#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Gameweeks at top – 3
Gameweek 23 ranking – 4th
Match performance – one goal and back in the top two
Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended his two-game mini-drought without a goal/assist by scoring the second goal in Manchester United’s 3-0 away win at Leicester. The goal makes the Swede the oldest player to score 15 goals in the league at 35 years 125 days.
Ibrahimovic expertly finished Antonio Valencia’s drilled pass to give Jose Mourinho’s side a 2-0 lead going into half-time. The goal lifts Ibrahimovic to second place with the attackers around him misfiring.
Fantasy Tip – Zlatan Ibrahimovic is up for a good haul with Bournemouth and Watford rolling up to Old Trafford in the next couple of games.
#1 Alexis Sanchez
Gameweeks at top – 5
Gameweek 23 ranking – 1st
Match performance – no goal/assist and a completely forgettable display
Alexis Sanchez had one of his worst games for Arsenal in the Gunners’ 3-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Chilean failed to create a chance or have a shot on target for the entire game, showing Chelsea’s success in stifling Arsenal’s main attacking threat.
However, Sanchez manages to hold on to the top spot for this gameweek with his closest competitors scoring blanks except Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Fantasy Tip – Alexis Sanchez has contributed to a goal/assist in 9 of the last 11 gameweeks, more than any other player.
