Salah, Palmer & Saka | Who is the best player in the Premier League?


Liverpool’s talisman who continues to defy age, Chelsea’s rising superstar in west London or Arsenal’s ever-present on the right wing?

Mohamed Salah, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka are three stellar talents currently setting the top-flight of English football alight – but who is the best?

Comparisons are made easy given the similar spaces off the right wing that each player occupies while in action, although determining which of the three takes top spot is no mean feat.

Here, Sky Sports takes a statistical dive into each of the three players in a bid to make the decision easier for you, the reader.

Saka starring in north London

Saka has the lowest tally of goals and assists across the three but has found consistent form in an Arsenal side that has struggled in front of goal at times this season.

Arsenal are the lowest scorers of the three teams with 28 goals in comparison to Chelsea’s 37, which is the most in the division, and Liverpool’s tally of 31.

Despite this, Saka has registered a goal or assist in nine of his 15 outings in the Premier League, including the dominant performances against West Ham and Southampton.

He continues to grow in importance by the day at the Emirates Stadium and it comes as no shock that he currently leads the league in assists with 10.

It is an impressive figure which could be even better given no player has created more big chances than his 19 and his team-mate Kai Havertz currently sits in the top 10 for big chances missed with eight.

Prolific Palmer

Heat map comparison of Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Mo Salah in the Premier League this season
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Heat map comparison of Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Mo Salah in the Premier League this season

Palmer’s rise has been astronomic since swapping the Etihad Stadium for Stamford Bridge on Deadline Day last year and he has now solidified himself as one of best players in the league.

Twenty-two goals and 11 assists was a staggering return in his first season at the club – and this form has carried over into the current campaign.

With 11 goals and six assists already to his name, the 22-year-old is just behind Salah in terms of goal involvements in 2024/25.

He is well-known for his unblemished record from the spot – scoring all 12 of his penalties so far – but his proficiency from 12 yards out has only supported his strong showings from open play.

No player of the three has scored more from these situations in 2024 than Palmer and the creativity he offers Chelsea is highlighted by his team-mate, Nicolas Jackson, also being on the same figure.

Given more freedom than his counterparts on the right wing, Palmer has the keys to this Chelsea side and it is clear to see why.

Salah rolling back the years

In steps the most experienced of the three. Salah’s talents in front of goal have been on full display in the Premier League since arriving in 2017 and his powers are not waning despite turning 32.

He is currently tied with Erling Haaland in the race to secure his fourth golden boot in England with 13 goals already – not to mention the nine assists he has to go alongside them.

The Egypt forward is currently averaging a goal involvement every 59 minutes, which is his best rate of return since completing the move to Anfield.

This impressive form now makes it 13 goals from open play in the calendar year, with nine of these arriving since Arne Slot took charge at Liverpool this season.

If Salah is here to stay, goals will inevitably follow.

Can’t decide? Let the power rankings do it for you!

These Power Rankings are based on points awarded to players for 35 different statistics – from goals and assists, to blocks and tackles.

Palmer currently takes top spot when taking into account Sky Sports’ algorithm, followed closely by Salah in second and Saka in fourth.



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