Top 10 Premier League players with highest percentage of goal involvements this season
- Matt Whiley
- 22 February 2022
While Mohamed Salah sits top of the scoring charts, he only ranks fourth when it comes to how much responsibility he shoulders for Liverpool's attacking output.
Of course, that tally will be affected by the finishing ability of other players, but the best attackers are almost always directly involved in contributing a high percentage of their side's output.
So, who are the top ten players who contribute to the largest proportion of their side's goals? Planet Sport crunches the numbers to find out.
10) Joshua King (Watford) - 33.3%
King signed for Watford last summer on a free transfer after departing Everton, and he has since proven to be an excellent acquisition for the Hornets. His five goals and three assists mean he has been directly involved in exactly one third of his new club's goals so far this season.
The Norwegian opened his Watford goalscoring account with a hat-trick back in October against former club Everton, building on his first assist a month prior. Roy Hodgson's men are still heavily embroiled in a relegation scrap, currently four points from safety, but having an attacker like King in their squad is a welcome boost.
9) Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - 34.1%
Portuguese attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes is midway through his second full season at Old Trafford, and has proven to be a brilliant recruit since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020. He has nine goals and six assists so far this term, making him comfortably the most productive member of this United squad.
He hit an opening-day hat-trick against Leeds to start his season off on a high, and his most recent goal came against the same opposition, taking him up to fourth in the Premier League scoring charts. Under Ralf Rangnick, United are battling hard for a top four spot, and Bruno is proving an incredibly valuable asset in that quest.
8) Raul Jimenez (Wolves) - 34.8%
Burly Mexican centre-forward Jimenez has been on the books at Molineux since 2018, when he arrived on loan from Benfica - he made the move permanent a year later. His fourth season in England has so far brought him five goals and three assists, making him a menacing threat in what has been a goal-shy Wolves side.
7) Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) - 35.6%
West Ham have enjoyed a stunning resurgence over the past 18 months, and now sit as genuine top four contenders. Bowen has certainly played his part in that since arriving from Hull City in January 2020, and this season he has been a particular standout on the Irons' right flank, with eight goals backed up by the same number of assists.
He is yet to be capped by England at any level, though the attentions of Gareth Southgate cannot be far off, especially considering his recent form which has seen him notch five goals in his last six games. David Moyes will hope for more of the same in the business end of the season, with his side four points off the Champions League spots at present.
6) Raphinha (Leeds) - 37.9%
Raphinha was signed by Leeds from French outfit Rennes just a few weeks after their long-awaited Premier League return, and has since established himself as a fan favourite.
The Brazilian has nine goals and two assists so far this term, which have been very welcome in a Whites side that has failed to reach the heights of last season.
He has regularly contributed throughout the season, never going more than three games in a row without coming up with either a goal or an assist, and his best spell of form arrived around November, when he registered four goals and an assist in six games.
With Leeds only five points off the relegation zone, their tricky Brazilian has proven to be a valuable asset in their second season back in the big time.
5) Neal Maupay (Brighton) - 40%
Brighton have long been the supposed kings of creating chances without being able to put them away. It's not for want of trying, though, and Maupay has been heavily involved in the goals they have come up with.
The Frenchman has so far registered eight goals and two assists, making him an integral part of a Seagulls side that has scored, on average, just once per game this season.
Signed from Brentford by Graham Potter just a few weeks after he took over at the Amex Stadium in 2019, Maupay looks firmly set to have his most productive league campaign yet, having already equalled last season's goal tally and being just two off his previous best.
Brighton look destined for mid-table, but could yet make a late run for the top seven if Maupay hits some form.
4) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 40.6%
There's a reason Liverpool fans sing so heartily about their Egyptian king. Since arriving from Roma in summer 2017 for what now seems a knockdown price of £35 million, Salah has blossomed into one of the world's very best. He leads the Premier League in goals (17), and his nine assists puts him second in that regard too.
There have been only four games this season in which Salah has failed to register either a goal or an assist, compared to the 18 in which he has contributed to a goal.
When the title battle is as intense as the one Jurgen Klopp's men are in with Manchester City, having a player with the world-renowned quality of Salah in their ranks is simply invaluable.
3) Son Heung-min (Tottenham) - 45.2%
One of the most naturally gifted players in the Premier League, South Korean star Son is now into his seventh season in the top flight since transferring from Bayer Leverkusen.
Son has continued to be an integral part of Tottenham's attack over that period, and this term has scored nine goals and created five more, putting him on course to register double figures in front of goal for the sixth year running.
He has formed a lethal partnership with Harry Kane, last season combining with the England captain for more goals in a single campaign than any other duo in Premier League history.
This season, he found some form in December, scoring in four consecutive games, and recently assisted two goals in a colossal victory away to Manchester City.
Spurs are on the outside looking in, but do remain in the conversation for the top four.
2) Teemu Pukki (Norwich) - 46.7%
Now in his fourth season in England after arriving from Danish outfit Brondby in 2018, Pukki is not enjoying quite as productive a season as the last time he was in the top flight.
However, Norwich's woes in front of goal this term have been so concerning that even six goals and one assist represents almost half of their entire output.
He registered three goals in four games in November, when Norwich looked as though they might be up for the fight under new manager Dean Smith.
But, like Norwich in general, Pukki has since dropped off rather drastically, scoring just once in his last ten appearances. He does, though, remain the Canaries' most productive option in attack. With the team bottom of the division and five points from safety, they will need him to start delivering once more.
1) Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) - 58.3%
Were it not for the fact we've already had one Watford striker on this list, it would be easy to deem the Hornets a one-man team.
The Nigerian, who arrived from Belgian side Club Brugge last summer, is the only man to have been directly involved in more than half of his club's goals this season, with nine strikes of his own coupled with five assists.
He found some fine form in late November and December last year, scoring five goals in six matches, and recently netted the winner against Aston Villa to secure the Hornets a priceless three points.
As we've already noted, Hodgson's side remain in the relegation zone, but if Dennis has once again found his shooting boots after blanking for six games in a row, they might have renewed hope of beating the drop.
