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The 2020-21 season has to be one of the most challenging in the history of the Premier League (PL) because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The schedule of the league, combined with that of other domestic and European competitions, has ensured that teams and players have had a tough time getting through this unprecedented season.
Despite all the impediments, such as empty stadiums, forced mid-season breaks and demanding schedules, some PL players stepped up to the plate in dramatic fashion when it came to contributing to the most important part of the game, goals.
In this article, we will take a look at some of the finest performers in the league based on the parameter of goal contributions. Interestingly, no Manchester City player makes it to the list.
Top 5 goal contributors in the Premier League this season
#5 Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
The Englishman has come a very long way in his career and has been an important figure at Leicester City ever since he joined them in 2012. Vardy was a key contributor in the title-winning run for the Foxes in the 2015-16 season. This season, too, his contributions have been integral to Leicester’s quest for a top-four spot.
Vardy has scored 13 goals and assisted 8 others after playing 30 matches for the Foxes this time around. He has been Leicester’s regular penalty-taker, and his poaching abilities in front of goal have helped Leicester claim important wins. Vardy has contributed a goal every 118 minutes he has played this season.
#4 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
There is no denying the quality Mo Salah possesses, and although Liverpool have been very disappointing in their title defence, the former Chelsea man has once again done well at an individual level.
Salah has three assists to his name and an impressive tally of 20 goals this season and he'll be looking to put in a strong challenge for the Golden Boot in the remaining games. Salah has a good chance of winning his third Golden Boot in the process.
If he achieves this feat, he'll only be behind Thierry Henry, who has won this award four times and will be joint second with Alan Shearer, who has won it thrice.
Salah has contributed a goal every 114 minutes he has played in the league. His future with Liverpool is clouded by a lot of uncertainty but Jurgen Klopp will surely do his best to keep Salah at Anfield even if they miss out on playing in the Champions League next season.
#3 Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
Very few players in the Premier league have been as hardworking and as effective as Son Heung-min in the past few years. Son normally plays as a left winger and one of the highlights of the season has been his link-up with his club captain and striker Harry Kane. In the first half of the season, Spurs and their then manager Jose Mourinho were heavily reliant on the combination of Son and Kane for the goals.
The former Bayer Leverkusen man has scored 16 goals and assisted in 10 others this season. In the absence of Harry Kane, Son stepped up more than often to help Spurs get the results, and it is safe to say that Son is a very important player for the London side. Son has contributed a goal every 106 minutes he has played in the league.
#2 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
It is no surprise to see the Portuguese midfielder on this list. The midfield magnifico has been a game-changer for Manchester United ever since arriving from Sporting Lisbon last year. The quality that Bruno has brought to United’s game has been nothing short of a blessing.
The midfield maestro has scored 16 goals this season, which is outstanding given the position he plays in. Of course, Bruno has been United’s regular penalty taker but let’s not take anything away from him because of that.
He has assisted 11 goals, the second-best in the league. His hard-working and passionate approach has been a delight to watch for every single United supporter and it is interesting to see where United end up if Bruno carries on like this. Winning the Europa League would surely be a good start and a deserved reward for Bruno’s contributions. Bruno has contributed a goal every 105 minutes in the 33 matches that he has played.
#1 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
It is safe to say that Harry Kane has been the best player in the Premier League this season. His goal-scoring abilities, combined with his off-the-ball contributions, have been both important to his team's fortunes and a joy to watch for fans. It is a pity that his contributions haven’t helped the Spurs to trophies or a good league place.
Kane, with his superb finishing abilities, is the league’s leading goal-scorer with 21 goals. Like Salah, Kane has the chance to win his third Premier League Golden Boot this season. He is also the league leader when it comes to assists, with 13 to his name.
Kane has a stunning record of contributing every 80 minutes this season, by far the best goal involvement in the league. Kane also has the third-most goal involvement (34) in Europe's top 5 leagues, only behind Barcelona's Lionel Messi (37) and Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski (42). It is quite an achievement and it clearly shows how single-handedly the Spurs captain has carried his side this season.
His future at Spurs, though, is in major doubt as the North London club will once again end the season trophy-less.It will be very interesting to see where the Englishman will end up playing next summer.
