When trawling through the history of the Premier League’s greatest ever goalscorers, we’re already well aware of the usual suspects – the likes of Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, Andy Cole and all-time top scorer Alan Shearer.
But are their hauls slightly flattering? Are they little more than flat-track bullies, amalgamating prolific returns against Premier League minnows once a 5-0 drubbing has already been deemed inevitable, rather than having any impact on the Premier League table?
It’s a difficult science to measure, but our mates at TransferMarkt have found the formula, gauging the Premier League’s greatest front-men on the number of match-winning strikes they’ve notched up down the years.
What qualifies as a match-winning strike exactly? Essentially, a goal that puts their respective side in a lead they maintain until the end of the game – essentially, the goal that initially swings three points in their favour.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown of the twenty greatest match-winners in Premier League history.
20. Didier Drogba – 33 in 254 Apps
Didier Drogba was always the man for the big occasion, regularly providing goals to secure Chelsea all-important wins over their domestic and European rivals. From his 104 Premier League goals, almost a third directly decided results in the Blues’ favour.
19. Ian Wright- 33 in 213 Apps
Ian Wright’s match-winning return is level with Drogba’s, but achieved in 41 fewer appearances. The vast majority came during his trophy-laden spell at Arsenal but more impressively, four of his nine Premier League goals for West Ham were match-winning strikes.
18. Ruud van Nistelrooy – 36 in 150 Apps
One of the Premier League’s most efficient goalscorers, Ruud van Nistelrooy was the difference in over a fifth of his 150 top flight outings for Manchester United. In that time, he scored 96 goals – 36 having a conclusive impact on the result.
17. Steven Gerrard – 37 in 504 Apps
Talismanic Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard produced some huge goals for the Anfield outfit throughout his career, 37 of his 120 in the Premier League grabbing his club vital wins. In fact, the midfielder failed to provide more than one winning goal during only two campaigns of his incredible career.
16. Paul Scholes – 37 in 499 Apps
Another iconic goalscoring midfielder, 37 of Paul Scholes’ 107 Premier League strikes decided results for Manchester United. His greatest season in this regard was 2002/03 when the ginger maestro produced six match-winning goals in 33 top flight appearances.
15. Michael Owen – 37 in 326 Apps
The greatest English striker of his generation, it’s no surprise to see Michael Owen feature on this list. The former front-man netted 150 times in the Premier League throughout his spells with Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Stoke City, 37 shaping the final result.
14. Jermain Defoe – 38 in 442 Apps
One of the few strikers on this list still in full working order, Jermain Defoe’s goals have proved the difference on 38 occasions during his Premier League career. That includes an impressive six match-winners for Sunderland since moving to Wearside in January 2015.
13. Robbie Fowler – 38 in 379 Apps
A lethal goalscorer during the early stages of the Premier League era, Robbie Fowler produced nine match-winning strikes for Liverpool in the 1994/95 season alone. He also bagged a further four more during his second spell at Anfield, despite notching up just eight Premier League goals.
12. Robbie Keane – 38 in 368 Apps
From one Robbie to another, Keane laid on four match-winning displays in four consecutive seasons for Tottenham Hotspur, netting 26 in total for the north London club. Previously, he produced five deciding goals for Coventry and Leeds United and after, he produced one apiece for Aston Villa and West Ham
11. Emile Heskey – 39 in 516 Apps
Emile Heskey may have received plenty of stick for his seemingly limited ability but the former England man boasts one of the strongest goals-to-match-winner ratios on this list, with 39 of his 111 Premier League strikes going on to decide the match. In fact, for all five clubs he represented in the top flight, Heskey was the difference on at least five occasions.
10. Les Ferdinand – 39 in 349 Apps
Another striker whose goal tally emphasised importance over quantity, 39 of Les Ferdinand’s 150 Premier League goals directly decided results. Throughout a well-travelled and lengthy career, Ferdinand bagged winners for QPR, Newcastle United, Spurs, West Ham and Leicester – but couldn’t find one for Bolton during the 2004/05 season.
9. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink – 39 in 288 Apps
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s record when it comes to match-winning strikes is nothing short of outstanding. Indeed, from 1998 onwards, he’s produced at least four per season, spanning his spells at Leeds United, Chelsea and Middlesbrough. In total, 39 of his 129 strikes were match-winners.
8. Ryan Giggs – 42 in 632 Apps
No doubt, longevity has paid off here for the Premier League’s all-time record appearance maker. That being said, nearly half of his 109 top flight strikes were the difference in terms of results. However, he did endure a two-season barren spell of failing to provide a match-winning goal.
7. Robin van Persie – 42 in 280 Apps
Robin van Persie’s performances often verged upon talismanic for Arsenal and the Dutchman notched up eleven match-winners during the 2011/12 season alone. That paved the way for a move to Manchester United, where RVP claimed a further six more as the Red Devils claimed the Premier League title.
6. Dwight Yorke – 44 in 375 Apps
Always an influence whenever he was on the pitch, over a third of Dwight Yorke’s 123 Premier League goals swayed the result in his club’s favour. That includes a staggering 25 for Aston Villa, 14 for Manchester United and five for Blackburn Rovers.
5. Andy Cole – 48 in 415 Apps
Dwight Yorke’s old strike partner, Andy Cole is also one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever match winners, proving the difference on 48 occasions. The vast majority came for Manchester United, operating alongside the aforementioned Yorke, but he also clinched wins for Newcastle, Blackburn, Fulham and Man City in the top flight.
4. Thierry Henry – 59 in 258 Apps
Thierry Henry is one of the most talented forwards to have ever graced the Premier League, claiming the Golden Boot on an impressive four occasions. His Arsenal career brought 176 top flight goals, 59 deciding the outcome. In fact, the Frenchman even bagged a match-winner during his second spell for the Gunners, against Sunderland, during the 2011/12 season.
3. Frank Lampard – 61 in 611 Apps
The Premier League’s greatest ever goalscoring midfielder, Frank Lampard finished his career in England with 176 league strikes to his name. In the process, the Chelsea icon bagged 61 match-winners, providing at least two during all but one campaign of his length career.
2. Wayne Rooney – 63 in 445 Apps
Wayne Rooney’s often accused of failing to turn up when it matters most but the statistics would beg to differ. Indeed, Wayne Rooney ranks second on this list with 63 match-winners to his name, starting with that legendary strike against Arsenal as a teenager which made him into a world star. In fact, Rooney went on a run of at least three decisive strikes per season from the start of his career to the end of the 2014/15 campaign.
1. Alan Shearer – 68 in 441 Apps
Perhaps a consequence of being the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, Alan Shearer inevitably finds himself at the top of the pile with a whopping 68. He notched up at least three match-winners per season throughout his career with the exception of one – a 1997/98 campaign that saw his beloved Newcastle finish in 13th place.