Top 10 Premier League goalscorer-assist combinations of all time

Football is a team game, but every so often, there are players and partnerships that shine through and define the qualities of a team. It is well documented in the “BBC” at Real Madrid and previously “MAX” at Barcelona. The Premier League this season has churned out few combinations that are hard to ignore.Cesc Fabregas has made a league highest 16 assists so far this season. Diego Costa has been at the end of six of those assists to convert them into goals. This partnership won many plaudits at the beginning of the season. Despite a dip in form for Fabregas and injury troubles for Costa, they are statistically still the Premier League’s most lethal scorer-assist combination.While the Costa-Fabregas combination leads the pack, the creative Spaniard is joint second as well – assisting Eden Hazard on four occasions. Tottenham Hotspurs’ Harry Kane-Nacer Chadli and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson-Raheem Sterling combination join the Chelsea pair on second having successfully combined four times this season.There have been a number of partnerships through EPL history that will forever be treasured. We take a look back through nearly 23 seasons of the Premier League at the most successful creative combinations.

#10 Robin van Persie-Theo Walcott

According to Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie often complained about him not passing enough and being an individual player. Yet, among the ten most prolific scorer-assist duo is this Arsenal duo of the Dutchman and English speedster.

In his 8 years at Arsenal, the van Persie found the back of the net 96 times in the Premier League. Walcott was directly involved in setting up 14 of those goals. They went on to play together for an long injury afflicted time and despite the tiffs and injuries, they contributed to each other’s play.

By no means are they the only Arsenal combination on this list but they are among the memorable ones.

#9 Alan Shearer-Laurent Robert

Little has been made of the partnership between Alan Shearer and Laurent Robert. The Englishman thrived on good service and if he didn’t get it from Nolberto Solano, it was provided by Robert.

On his day, Robert could turn any full-back inside out and for five years at Newcastle he did it day in and day out. His combination with Shearer wasn’t the most obvious, but his service added to Shearer’s ability to terrorise defences. Robert supplied Sheared with 14 crucial assists to push Shearer’s goal tally higher.

#8 Andy Cole-Ryan Giggs

Andy Cole scored goals no matter what team he played for in his prime. His most prolific spell arguably coming at Manchester United where his partnership with Dwight Yorke mesmerised and awed spectators. Nonetheless, another partnership that he formed in the team would also contribute to his goal-scoring during the six season spent at Old Trafford.

He combined successfully with the evergreen Ryan Giggs to score 14 times. This was surprisingly the only Manchester United duo to make the list, though Giggs continued to combine with a number of other United stars to contribute with goals and assists throughout his career.

#7 John Carew-Ashley Young

Aston Villa currently find themselves in the middle of a relegation dogfight in the Premier League. However, between 2007-11 they had a few good seasons in them. In those years, striker John Carew and winger Ashley Young built an understanding which allowed Carew to score 14 goals from Ashley Young’s assists alone.

Young’s brilliant crosses into the box with Carew’s ability in the air meant that they would always be able to threaten defense between them. Young’s style particularly impressed Manchester United who would swoop in for him in 2011. No one at Aston Villa since this duo have even come close to such a record.

#6 Fredrik Ljungberg-Thierry Henry

The Arsenal invincibles of 2003-04 were among the greatest teams football has ever witnessed. It also consisted a scorer-assist duo that still remains among the top ten most prolific combinations of all time – Thierry Henry-Fredrik Ljungberg.

This Arsenal duo is only two combinations behind Henry-Pires. Ljungberg and Henry successfully combined for 15 goals in the Premier League. Together they formed an important part of the 2003-04 starting XI for Arsene Wenger. Though, the Swede will always be remembered for his FA Cup final goal against Chelsea, it was his partnership with Henry that made the difference in the league for Arsenal.

#5 Alan Shearer-Nolberto Solano

Alan Shearer was one of those strikers who could score all kinds of goals. He was always hungry for goals and inevitably found them. For a few seasons at Newcastle (1998-2004), Nolberto Solano found himself in the position of having to keep the supply going to this goal machine.

He came through with a constant supply of crosses and passes that Shearer thrived on in his time at Newcastle. Solano assisted 16 of Shearer’s goals at Newcastle. Between Solano’s 16 and Laurent Robert’s 14, Shearer accounted for 30 goals just from these two outstanding wingers at Newcastle.

Solano returned to Newcastle in 2005 after a season at Aston Villa and he revealed that Shearer played a part in his return to the club. It goes a long way to show how much Shearer valued Solano’s contribution to his play.

#4 Thierry Henry-Robert Pires

It was inevitable that one combination on this list would be from Arsenal’s “invincibles” side. So it’s not really surprising that there are two – and of course it features Thierry Henry again. This time, partnered by his French compatriot Robert Pires.

You couldn’t count the number of times Henry made runs down channels for Arsenal, often running onto a perfectly weighted pass and then weaving his magic. Robert Pires was often on the other end of those passes, constantly looking for his fellow Frenchman. Together, they recorded a total of 57 goals in all competitions in that 2003-04 season when they went undefeated in the Premier League.

Henry was successful in converting from chances created by Pires 17 times. Their partnership was only one among many that Henry would develop in his incredibly successful run at Arsenal.

#3 Teddy Sheringham-Darren Anderton

Sheringham might be more famous for his injury time exploits with Manchester United against Bayern Munich in 1999. However, in his time at Tottenham, he formed a deadly partnership with Darren Anderton and Nick Barmby.

Sheringham and Anderton notched up an impressive 20 combinations in their time together at Tottenham to feature in the most prolific scorer-assist combinations of all time. Sheringham scored an impressive 76 goals in his first spell at Tottenham (1992-1997) during which his partnership with Anderton blossomed.

#2 Robbie Fowler-Steve McManaman

Usually when Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman are mentioned together, its a reference to the Spice Boys of Liverpool. Regardless, Fowler’s ability in front of goal was sublime and Macca kept the assists coming. Of the 128 goals that he scored, 20 came from the partnership that he and McManaman had built.

This homegrown combination was largely credited with making Liverpool among the best attacking forces in England. Fowler’s ability to score different types of goals gave this partnership the catalyst it needed to grow into the second most potent all time EPL combination.

#1 Didier Drogba-Frank Lampard

The Chelsea duo were a feared combination and for good reason. They top the list of the most prolific scorer-assist duo with 24 combinations. Their understanding on the pitch was otherworldly. Frank Lampard’s eight years playing with Didier Drogba at Chelsea produced a number of flicks, long balls, layoffs and through balls that the big Ivorian dispatched in emphatic fashion.

They’re both Chelsea legends in their own right and their creative combination was statistically the most efficient machine. Drogba himself has been quoted in the past for attributing credit to Lampard for his immense involvement in all of the goals he has scored for the club.