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Which Premier League player is the best in the air?

West Ham United's English midfielder Michail Antonio (R) heads West ham's first goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester Ci
Image: Michail Antonio has scored more headed Premier League goals (10) in 2016 than any other player

Is Christian Benteke the best aerial attacker in the Premier League?

The Belgian nodded in Crystal Palace's equaliser against Everton on Friday night, taking his tally of headed goals to 19 since his September 2012 Premier League debut.

No player has scored more since the start of the 2012/13 season, with Arsenal's Olivier Giroud also on 19.

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Benteke's opposing striker at Goodison Park, Everton's Romelu Lukaku - who opened the scoring with a fine free-kick - is third on the list with 14 headed goals to his name.

Benteke has scored 54 Premier League goals, meaning 35.2 per cent have come via his head. In comparison, Giroud (33.3 per cent) and Lukaku (21.5 per cent) are less reliant on the method.

However, West Ham's Michail Antonio has scored 11 of his 13 Premier League goals (84.6 per cent) with his head - including all five of his goals this season. He's headed in 10 times in 2016 in the Premier League - more than any other player and on average scores with his head every 2.9 games. 

Christian Benteke of Crystal Palace outjumps Seamus Coleman of Everton as he scores their first goal during the Premier League match at Goodison
Image: Christian Benteke heads in Crystal Palace's equaliser against Everton

Antonio's team-mate Andy Carroll has scored more than half (12 of 23, 52.2 per cent) of his Premier League goals since the start of 2012/13 with his head, while Stoke City's Peter Crouch (10 of 23, 43.5 per cent) and Southampton's Shane Long (10 of 30, 33.3 per cent) have also proven their aerial threat.

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Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini, Chelsea's John Terry, Crystal Palace's Scott Dann and Tottenham's Harry Kane are unsurprisingly not far behind, given their height, but Manchester City's 5ft 8in Sergio Aguero is also on eight headed goals since August 2012.

Headed Premier League goals since start of 2012/13

Player Headed goals Total goals Percentage of headed goals Games/headed goal
Christian Benteke 19 54 35.2% 6.5
Olivier Giroud 19 57 33.3% 7.3
Romelu Lukaku 14 65 21.5% 10.5
Andy Carroll 12 23 52.2% 6.9
Michail Antonio 11 13 84.6% 2.9
Peter Crouch 10 23 43.5% 11.4
Shane Long 10 30 33.3% 13
Mame Biram Diouf 8 16 50% 8.1
Daniel Sturridge 8 44 18.2% 10.1
Scott Dann 8 10 80% 11
Harry Kane 8 51 15.7% 11.4
Marouane Fellaini 8 18 44.4% 12.5
John Terry 8 12 66.7% 14.3
Sergio Aguero 8 84 9.5% 15
Gareth McAuely 8 8 100% 16.5

Other players feared in the air include Leicester's summer signing, Islam Slimani and West Brom's Salomon Rondon, who have both scored twice with their head this term. 

Manchester United pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba have also scored headers this season. But who is the best? 

Let us know using the comments section if you're viewing on a desktop or tweet @SkyFootball 

Most headed PL goals in 2016/17 season

Player Club Headed goals
Michail Antonio West Ham 5
Christian Benteke Crystal Palace 3
Islam Slimani Leicester 2
Romelu Lukaku Everton 2
Salomon Rondon West Brom 2
Scott Dann Crystal Palace 2

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