Diego Costa? Sergio Aguero? Alexis Sanchez? Soccer Saturday pundits pick top Premier League striker

The Premier League's leading marksmen boosted their goal tallies at the weekend but who's the best striker in the top flight right now?

Diego Costa - who has been installed as the 15/8 favourite in Sky Bet's top goalscorer market - scored as Chelsea went clear at the top with a 3-1 win over title rivals Manchester City, while Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez, starring in a new central role, hit a hat-trick in a 5-1 drubbing of West Ham.

The stats suggest it's a keenly-fought battle so we asked the Soccer Saturday boys to wade into the debate. Read on for their verdicts - and have your say below...

Premier League's top scorers

Player Goals Minutes per goal Assists
Diego Costa 11 112 5
Alexis Sanchez 11 107 4
Sergio Aguero 10 101 0
Jermain Defoe 8 157 2
Eden Hazard 8 147 1
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 8 146 0

Charlie Nicholas - Diego Costa (Chelsea)

In general, I think Sergio Aguero's a better player but if you're asking me who's the best Premier League striker right now, I'd have to go with Diego Costa.

Alexis Sanchez was mind-blowingly good against West Ham and Arsene Wenger has figured out that when he's fresh he's hard to mark. Sanchez is also a better overall footballer in my view but Costa has been more consistent this season.

Advertisement
Image: Diego Costa's goals have helped Chelsea to the Premier League summit

When he arrived in the Premier League I didn't think he was in the top five strikers, maybe even 10.

I've not been impressed by his behaviour at times but whatever Antonio Conte has done has brought him to a different level so far this season. He is the No 1 striker right now.

Also See:

Charlie's tips

Find out what Charlie is predicting in his Europa League double here.

Matt Le Tissier - Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)

It's tough but I would go with Sanchez. It's a close call between him and Costa on current form.

Image: Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez has 11 top-flight goals so far

I think Sanchez has shown he's a very versatile player and he can go anywhere across that front line. That makes him a nuisance for defenders to mark and he's shown himself to be a top-class finisher, too.

Aguero hasn't really done anything wrong except for the two red cards and the chances he missed last weekend.

This video is only available on Skysports.com.
Open to watch

Paul Merson - Diego Costa (Chelsea) 

Good question! I'm going to go with Costa. Right now it's Costa. He holds the ball up, plays on his own and scored another fantastic goal at the weekend.

I don't see Sanchez as a centre-forward, even though he's done great and doesn't lack a lot. For me he doesn't do the same job in the big games. For example, if they are playing Real Madrid and Madrid are dominating the game the ball won't stick with Sanchez like it would with Costa; he can't hold it up the same way.

This video is only available on Skysports.com.
Open to watch

I'm still a big fan of Aguero but there seems to be something missing from him right now. He missed so many chances against Chelsea and I'm not sure he's playing with the same aura of recent years. Pep Guardiola is asking him to close down players and he's a player that needs to be fresh to be at his explosive best. 

Phil Thompson - Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

We had this debate on Soccer Saturday and I think it is very difficult at this moment because Costa is having such a good run. But, all round I'd still have to go for Aguero. 

Image: Sergio Aguero has scored 10 Premier league goals this season

You can't write him off because of what happened against Chelsea. I just think there was a lot of frustration in the game because they'd done enough to win it in the first half and then the red mist came down.

Who's the better Premier League striker - Costa, Aguero or Sanchez? Have your say below. Another player get your vote instead? Leave a comment or tweet us @SkyFootball...

Outbrain