The Premier League has witnessed some unbelievable assists over the years. The current crop of creative minds on the pitch are continuing that trend. It is the thought and execution of these players which leaves the opposition defence helpless and the spectators stunned.
A vast majority of the goals scored are preceded by passes to the goalscorer. More often than not, these passes are what make the goal. They can be through balls, long balls, corners, free kicks, deft flicks, lucky breaks and more.
Also read: Top 10 goals of 2016 - Part 1
Who remembers the second man to step on the moon? Similarly, who remembers the player who assisted rather than the player who scored? We football fanatics do! On that note, here is a look at the top assists in the Premier League in 2016.
#5 Kevin De Bruyne(Manchester City) vs Middlesbrough
De Bruyne has risen to become an elite level midfielder in the past year. He is not a typical goal scorer, but his sense of the game and his passing ability is incredible. The Belgian has all the ingredients to become the Premier League's assist leader and currently he leads the charts with nine. One of those came in a home game against a stubborn Boro side.
With the game still locked at 0-0, De Bruyne produced a moment of brilliance as he played a sublime curling pass to Sergio Aguero who netted a simple goal. The pass was made from outside the box on the right side and curled past the first centre-back perfectly into Aguero's path.
De Bruyne's vision and execution rendered the centre-backs and the goalkeeper mere spectators.
#4 Riyad Mahrez(Leicester City) vs Stoke City
Mahrez had a sensational 2015-16 campaign leading Leicester to an unlikely English title. He was voted as the PFA Player of the Year, the highest individual honour in English football. The silky winger can run any defender ragged, and Stoke right back Philipp Wollscheid will testify to that fact.
Mahrez received the ball in the penalty box and was confronted by two defenders. Coupling the 'elastico' with a nutmeg, he left Wollscheid stranded. An elastico is a move where the player slightly shifts the ball to one side only to reverse its direction abruptly with the same foot. Mahrez performed the same with incredible smoothness and played it to Leonardo Ulloa for a simple finish.
#3 Cesc Fabregas(Chelsea) vs Manchester City
Fabregas is arguably the best passer in the Premier League. The ex-Barcelona man had a terrific 2014-15 season before slumping last season. He started the current campaign in the background with Antonio Conte deeming him surplus to his requirements. However, Conte couldn't ignore the Spaniard for long and Fabregas has assumed a 'defence unlocker' role for Chelsea.
This role was demonstrated perfectly at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City had taken the lead and were looking like they were going to run away with it. Enter Fabregas. He played an exquisite long pass to Diego Costa, who hauled Chelsea level. The assist was made from about 70 yards out as it sailed over the last defender into Costa's path who did the rest.
#2 Mesut Ozil(Arsenal) vs Aston Villa
Ozil took his time to adjust to the English game, however, he was superb in 2015-16, establishing himself as a passing magician. The German recorded 20 assists last season, and few can be categorised as orthodox. The German produced one such moment of magic in a home game against Aston Villa.
The ball was cleared by the Arsenal defence and it fell to Ozil with only Olivier Giroud in front of him. The ball was at waist-height and while most players would have trapped it and waited for support, Ozil had other ideas.
He played a ridiculous yet deft flick with the side of his boot to set Olivier Giroud free on goal. Giroud did the rest and finished off the move. But all credit has to go to the German maestro.
#1 Dimitri Payet(West Ham) vs Watford
Payet was the standout performer for West Ham last season, leading them to a seventh place finish. He is yet to reach those levels this time around, but has provided glimpses of what he is capable of.
Also read: Top 10 goals of 2016 - Part 2
One such glimpse came against Watford when he received the ball on the right side. Miguel Britos was the man who was jockeying him. Payet dashed forward and suddenly came to a stop. At this stage, many, if not all would have looked for a midfielder to pass to. Not Payet.
The Frenchman played a ridiculous rabona into the path of Michail Antonio who headed into an unguarded net. The sheer audacity of the pass is what left the Watford defence helpless. Some may call trickery like this disrespectful, but who cares?
