Ally McCoist has omitted two of the Premier League’s most celebrated stars from his all-time top three attackers from the division.
On the latest episode of talkSPORT Bet’s Final Third show, McCoist instead picked two players who have retired, while one of them is no longer playing in England.
The conversation turned to the Premier League‘s iconic figures, with McCoist fielding what felt like the million-dollar question: Who makes his top three forwards in the league’s history?
After some deliberation, McCoist remarked: “I don’t think Harry Kane is getting in it.”
“But who makes it ahead of him?” host Ryon Scott-Douglas asked.
“Mohammed Salah’s not getting in it…” McCoist declared.
“So Liverpool fans will have Mo Salah as an all-time great; who am I to say he’s not?
“For example, where it’s a conversation, my front three I’d have Alan Shearer through the middle because his stats as a centre-forward are incomparable to anybody’s.
“I’m playing Thierry Henry on one side; of course, I’m playing Cristiano Ronaldo on the other side,” McCoist explained.
“There’ll be Liverpool fans out there saying Salah has to play; there’ll be Chelsea fans saying Didier Drogba must play through the middle.
“It’s a brilliant discussion and argument because you could pick yours, and it could be three completely different players.
“If I’m just talking all-time greats, it’s those three,” McCoist said.
“I’d consider them all-time greats,” Scott-Douglas agreed.
“If you look at Ronaldo over Salah, he won a Ballon d’Or in the Premier League for Manchester United that season, a Champions League, a Premier League, so for me, it’s accolades and trophies they get with it.”
So, do McCoist’s selections withstand scrutiny? Let’s dive into the Premier League statistics and careers of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Alan Shearer’s Premier League career concluded with him as the all-time leading scorer, netting 260 goals in 441 appearances.
He began with Blackburn Rovers in 1992, quickly becoming a prolific scorer and leading the team to a historic league title in 1994-95.
In 1996, he returned to his boyhood club, Newcastle, becoming the world’s most expensive player at the time with the Magpies paying £15million.
There, he remained a fan favourite and maintained his scoring prowess, though he didn’t win major trophies. Nonetheless, his consistent goalscoring cements his status among the league’s greats.
Thierry Henry’s Premier League tenure with Arsenal from 1999 to 2007 is regarded as one of the competition’s finest.
Originally a winger, Arsene Wenger transitioned him into a lethal centre forward, leading to two Premier League titles, including the remarkable ‘Invincibles’ season of 2003/04.
Henry won the Premier League Golden Boot four times, holds the record for the most assists in a season, and is Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer with 175 goals in 258 appearances.
Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Premier League career with Manchester United spanned two spells.
Arriving as a raw talent in 2003, he evolved into a world-class forward under Sir Alex Ferguson.
In his first stint, he won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and the Champions League, earning his first Ballon d’Or in 2008.
After returning in 2021, Ronaldo continued to score, establishing his legacy as one of the competition’s all-time greats.
Comparing Shearer, Henry, and Ronaldo to Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah reveals interesting dynamics.
While Shearer remains the all-time top scorer with 260 goals, Kane has a notable 213 goals in 320 games, showcasing a slightly better goals-per-game ratio and providing 48 assists compared to Shearer’s 64.
However, Shearer’s longevity and a Premier League title with Blackburn elevated his status.
In the Henry vs Salah comparison, Henry scored 175 goals in 258 appearances, averaging 0.68 goals per game and providing 74 assists.
Salah, with Liverpool, has netted 157 goals in 257 appearances at around 0.61 goals per game, contributing 64 assists.
Although Henry has a higher goals-per-game ratio, Salah’s achievements in a contemporary context are commendable.
Both players are celebrated for their pace and clinical finishing, but Henry’s overall totals and Golden Boot record give him a slight edge.
