Jamie Carragher, former captain of Liverpool, recently presented his list of the top 10 strikers in Premier League history during an episode of Monday Night Football alongside Thierry Henry. The list has generated significant debate in England, particularly over the players Carragher included, and, perhaps more controversially, those he left out.
Carragher explained that the list was based on the "impact these players have had on the Premier League." He noted, "We might expect other names to be in the top three or four. There are some great goal scorers, but not everyone made the top 10. There are also wingers, which we see more of in today’s game," he stated before revealing the bombshell list.
The lineup included iconic players such as Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dennis Bergkamp, Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard, Eric Cantona, Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, Luis Suárez, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Agüero, Thierry Henry, and Wayne Rooney. Notably, players like Erling Haaland and Harry Kane were omitted, which caused further controversy. The full list was revealed in the following order:
1. Thierry Henry
2. Mohamed Salah
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
4. Eric Cantona
5. Didier Drogba
6. Wayne Rooney
7. Alan Shearer
8. Eden Hazard
9. Dennis Bergkamp
10. Gareth Bale
Carragher explained why certain players were ranked where they were. He placed Gareth Bale in 10th, ahead of Dennis Bergkamp in 9th, and Eden Hazard in 8th. He defended this by emphasizing Bale’s influence both at Spurs and Real Madrid, particularly his ability to score in crucial moments. The decision to place Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer, in 7th was another point of contention.
Carragher further justified his rankings by discussing Wayne Rooney’s career. "Rooney was better when playing as a central forward," he said, noting that his effectiveness diminished when his position was changed. Regarding Drogba, Carragher highlighted the striker's knack for scoring in decisive moments, including a memorable Champions League final performance. "No one did it better than him in those key moments," he asserted.
Carragher also praised Eric Cantona, stating, "He was the biggest star of the Premier League. When you think of the early days, he and Shearer were the most talked about players, and Cantona was seen as the best."
As for Cristiano Ronaldo, Carragher acknowledged the forward’s extraordinary fitness and work ethic. "His body is even better than when he was younger," he said. "He showed that the sky was the limit." Regarding Salah, Carragher compared him to Ronaldo, noting that Salah’s achievements might surpass Ronaldo’s in some ways, especially in terms of longevity. "Salah’s record was better than Ronaldo’s, but Ronaldo arrived as a young boy, while Salah is more mature at 40 in his first season."
The list culminates with Carragher’s recognition of Thierry Henry, celebrating his monumental role in Arsenal's "Invincibles" season and the unique style he brought to the Premier League.
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