18 of the best assists in PL history: Berbatov, Ozil, Fabregas, Cantona…
We all have a list of the greatest goals we’ve ever seen in our heads, but unbelievable passes followed by bog-standard finishes tend to be sadly forgotten about.
A wonderful assist and a brilliant finish make for particularly special goals, of course, while there are plenty of examples of great team moves which live long in the memory.
And there are some of both of those types of goal on this (absolutely non-exhaustive) list of some of the best assists the Premier League has ever seen.
Cesc Fabregas – Chelsea v Burnley
We’re still not sure how Fabregas was able to control this ball to Andre Schurrle so perfectly. We’re putting this straight into the arms of the goalkeeper 99 times out of 100 and missing it completely the other one, but that’s why we’re not professionals.
Olivier Giroud – Arsenal v Norwich
If we could combine both of Giroud’s touches into one then it’d be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the assist world, but the instinctive outside-of-the-boot ball is deserving of a place on this list in its own right.
This was Arsenal at their best and most fluent, and you’re unlikely to find a better – or at least a slicker – team goal anywhere.
#OnThisDay two years ago, Jack Wilshere scored that amazing goal vs Norwich in the #BPL.. pic.twitter.com/Wh97KaACPD
— Sport Climax (@SportClimax) October 19, 2015
Dimitar Berbatov – Man Utd v West Ham
This is the moment at which James Collins died. Everything the Welshman did since is non-canon, performed by an actor taking on the role of James Collins.
There are some touches where you wonder how a player even thought to try something, let alone pull it off. This is one of those.
Throwback to when Dimitar Berbatov provided this assist for Cristiano Ronaldo 😍 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/NU2N82y0uo
— ASJRollins (@ASJRollins) June 19, 2019
Steven Gerrard – Liverpool v Fulham
What even is that? It’s not quite a trivela, not quite a chip and not quite a toe-punt. It might need its own name. Whatever it is, it’s sensational.
Gianfranco Zola – Chelsea v Sunderland
The goal Gus Poyet scored for Chelsea against Sunderland in 1999 might well have been the best of his career. Yet, somehow, his flying scissor volley wasn’t the best part about it. Damn Gianfranco Zola.
Mesut Ozil – Arsenal v Aston Villa
If a backheel volley is the only way to ensure Arsenal beat the offside trap, then a backheel volley is what Mesut Ozil would produce. We wouldn’t have been able to forgive Olivier Giroud if he’d screwed this one up.
Eric Cantona – Man Utd v Tottenham
Stop it, Eric. This is obscene.
On this day in 1993, Eric Cantona provided Dennis Irwin with a real contender for The Greatest Assist of all Time™️ against Spurs.
Can you think of a better one?pic.twitter.com/HX7FASevZG
— MUNDIAL (@MundialMag) January 9, 2020
Dimitri Payet – West Ham v Watford
Troy Deeney claimed moments like this were enough to inspire Watford to launch a revenge mission and score four unanswered goals. And you know what, it’s absolutely worth it.
David Silva – Man City v Man Utd
Man City needed goal difference to win the title in 2012 and this 6-1 victory at Old Trafford helped a great deal. Silva’s ball to Edin Dzeko was the icing on an already overdecorated cake, and a classic case of finding the single exact route to a team-mate.
An outrageous pass by Silva to set up Dzeko in a 6-1 win at Old Trafford in 2011 #WCPod pic.twitter.com/GC4xicycR1
— #WCPod (@TheWeeklyCannon) February 10, 2017
Riyad Mahrez – Leicester v West Brom
This came at a point when Mahrez – and Leicester – could do no wrong. An absolute gem of a backheel, perfectly weighted to the point that he might as well have picked the ball up and dropped it onto Andy King’s boot.
What a one-touch assit by @Mahrez22 and what a finish by @10_kingy !!!#lcfc #assist #mahrez #goal #king pic.twitter.com/H7Isdz3GYN
— Andel azeem (@MahrezVines) March 1, 2016
Kevin De Bruyne – Man City v Southampton
He did this in the fourth minute of stoppage time on the final day of the season to make City the first team to break the 100-point barrier in the Premier League. Outrageous.
A goal that is now associated with multiple records and a team that is forever etched in history. A century right at the end, served up by none other than Kevin De Bruyne#JusticeForArmyStudents #MCFC pic.twitter.com/DEIEoKfp0M
— This Is Our City (@ManCityNumbers) January 29, 2022
Frank Lampard – Chelsea v Man City
We still can’t quite work out how Lampard got this pass between those two City centre-backs.
Wayne Rooney – Man Utd v Aston Villa
Made even better by the fact the beauty of the pass is matched by the beauty of the finish.
We will never forget that Strike @Persie_Official @ManUtd #Tbt 2013 against Aston Villa. pic.twitter.com/uCn4eyf94k
— Sir. Shija 🐐 (@bvanp10) April 12, 2018
Luis Suarez – Liverpool v Man Utd
One of the greatest goals never scored has to settle for a place as one of the greatest assists ever produced thanks to Dirk Kuyt’s cheeky goalpoaching.
Dennis Bergkamp – Arsenal v Leicester
You can tell how sad this has made the goalkeeper.
Alex Song – Arsenal v Everton
Remember when Alex Song was good enough to earn a move to Barcelona?
Leroy Sane – Man City v Newcastle
This looks like when one of the older lads at school who once had trials at Ipswich joins in with the year below for 10 minutes.
Here's the goal! (including Leroy's 🔥 assist) https://t.co/v8x2Q86Utr pic.twitter.com/x3R0hXa9Vk
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 29, 2020
Juan Sebastian Veron – Man Utd v Birmingham
Like Rooney to Van Persie, David Beckham’s finish makes this all the better.
READ NEXT: The story of Eric Cantona and his incredible impact on Man Utd
TRY A QUIZ: Can you name the 20 players with the most assists in PL history?