Top 10 Duos in Premier League History (Ranked)

The Premier League has not only produced countless individual superstars over the years but has also been home to some of football’s most iconic double acts. From the rock-solid center-back pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand to the unbeatable midfield duo of Gilberto Silva and Patrick Vieira, the list of legendary partnerships is endless.

Some of the most memorable and effective duos, however, have been formed at the attacking end of the pitch. Whether it’s the classic center-forward partnerships of the 1990s or today’s dynamic winger-striker combos, the Premier League has seen a host of lethal attacking duos.

Currently, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland stand out as one of the most prolific active pairs in the top flight. Yet, despite their success, they still fall short when compared to the Premier League’s all-time greatest duos in terms of combined goals and assists. Here’s a breakdown of these legendary scoring partnerships, featuring some of the league’s finest players—along with a few surprising entries.

Key Takeaways:

• A handful of elite partnerships have consistently combined to create memorable Premier League goals for each other.
• Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and modern-day Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah have both enjoyed prolific partnerships with several teammates throughout their careers.
• Surprisingly, no Manchester United duo has ever set each other up for more than 20 Premier League goals.

Shared Premier League club: Newcastle

Given that Alan Shearer is the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer, it’s no surprise that the Englishman developed several formidable partnerships throughout his career. While his partnership with Chris Sutton at Blackburn Rovers was highly productive, it was actually Nolberto Solano who combined with Shearer the most.

The two spent seven seasons together at Newcastle United before Shearer retired in 2006. As expected, it was Solano who provided the majority of the creativity, assisting Shearer on 16 of their 22 combined goals. One of the most memorable assists came in 2002 against West Brom when Solano set Shearer up from an indirect free-kick inside the box—one of the more unusual moments in Premier League history.

9. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane – 22

Shared Premier League club: Liverpool

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were a near-unstoppable force during their time as the sharp edges of Jurgen Klopp’s dominant Liverpool side. Together, they routinely set each other up for goals, playing a key role in ending Liverpool’s 30-year wait to be crowned Premier League champions. However, off the pitch, their relationship was far less harmonious.

As Roberto Firmino later revealed: “They were never best friends; each kept to himself.” This tension came to a head during Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Burnley in 2019, when Mane reacted angrily after Salah failed to pass to him in a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Mane eventually left the club at the end of the 2021/22 season to join Bayern Munich, having netted 90 league goals for the Reds—10 of which were assisted by his Egyptian teammate.

8. Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman – 24

Shared Premier League clubs: Liverpool & Man City

Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler formed one of Liverpool’s most iconic partnerships, featuring together in over 250 games for the Reds. Both players grew up through Liverpool’s youth academy, forging a strong bond both on and off the field.

While McManaman made his first-team debut before Fowler, the striker soon followed, going on to become one of the club’s most prolific scorers. McManaman assisted Fowler 20 times before he left for Real Madrid in 1999. In his final season with Liverpool, he set up Fowler’s last goal in a thrilling 3-2 win over Everton. The duo reunited at Manchester City a few years later, but neither was at their peak by then.

7. Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry – 24

Shared Premier League club: Arsenal

Spoiler alert: This isn’t the last time Thierry Henry will appear on this list. Freddie Ljungberg and the legendary Frenchman spent eight successful years together at Arsenal, contributing to two Premier League triumphs and three FA Cup victories.

While Ljungberg was primarily known as a creator rather than a goalscorer, he surprisingly netted the majority of goals in this partnership, tallying 15 in total. Notably, Henry provided all three assists for Ljungberg’s only career hat-trick against Sunderland on the final day of the 2002/03 season. At that time, Arsenal’s greatest-ever striker was locked in a race for the Premier League Golden Boot against Ruud van Nistelrooy of Manchester United, yet he chose to pass up a chance to equal the Dutchman’s goal tally, instead prioritizing his teammate’s success.

6. Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino – 25

Shared Premier League club: Liverpool

You might assume that Salah and Mane were Liverpool’s most lethal duo, but the Egyptian winger has actually linked up more often with Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian played a crucial role in Salah’s journey at the club, setting him up for his first-ever Premier League goal against Watford in 2017, after which the pair hit the ground running.

However, Salah wasn’t always the easiest teammate to partner with. “I don’t know if he was aware of it or not, but Salah used to frustrate everyone when he didn’t pass the ball,” Firmino admitted. Despite these challenges, the selfless striker managed to receive the ball from Salah at least 12 times, showcasing their effective partnership.

5. Darren Anderton and Teddy Sheringham – 27

Shared Premier League club: Tottenham

Darren Anderton and Teddy Sheringham enjoyed a strong bond for both club and country. During their seven seasons together, split over two spells at Tottenham Hotspur, they combined for 27 goals, with Sheringham netting 20 of them.

The duo, known more for their sharp footballing minds than their pace, also played a key role for England during Euro 1996, helping the team reach the semi-finals under former Spurs manager Terry Venables. Their connection peaked in the 1994/95 season, particularly with their trademark near-post corner routine, which led to three goals in that campaign alone.

4. David Silva and Sergio Aguero – 29

Shared Premier League club: Man City

Manchester City’s European treble winners may be the club’s most successful team, but they can’t truly claim to be the best to ever don the sky blue, as neither Sergio Aguero nor David Silva—two of the club’s greatest players—were part of it. Aguero ranks fourth on the all-time Premier League goal-scoring list, while Silva sits seventh in the assists chart.

Unsurprisingly, the Spaniard assisted his Argentine teammate on 21 occasions in the league. Despite winning 11 major trophies together, the duo never managed to secure the elusive Champions League title. Their partnership came to an end in 2020 when Silva departed for Real Sociedad.

3. Robert Pires and Thierry Henry – 29

Shared Premier League club: Arsenal

As mentioned earlier, Thierry Henry makes another appearance, this time alongside fellow Invincible Robert Pires. In this partnership, Henry was the more prolific, scoring 17 of their combined 29 goals, while Pires played a wider role. Over six seasons together, the duo helped Arsenal win five major trophies and were both key figures in Arsene Wenger’s legendary squad.

Their partnership extended to the international stage as well, where they won the 1998 World Cup and lifted the European Championship two years later with France.

However, not all of their moments were successful. Pires and Henry famously attempted what many consider the worst penalty in Premier League history, as Pires botched an attempt to roll the ball to Henry, resulting in an embarrassing failure.

2. Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard – 36

Shared Premier League club: Chelsea

As with everything in Frank Lampard’s career, his prolific partnership with Didier Drogba was built on hard work. Over eight seasons together at Chelsea, the duo combined for an impressive 36 goals, a testament to the countless hours spent perfecting their chemistry on the training pitch. Lampard became a master of timing his signature one-touch pass over the top for Drogba to finish.

Reflecting on their bond, Lampard said, “We were good friends and became best friends. We didn’t go out much together, but we had a strong relationship off the pitch and talked a lot during training.”

Their connection extended beyond the Premier League, with Lampard assisting Drogba in some of Chelsea’s biggest moments. He set up Drogba’s winner against Manchester United in the 2007 FA Cup final and provided the assist for his decisive goal in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the same competition five years later.

1. Harry Kane and Son Heung-min – 47

Shared Premier League club: Tottenham

Standing head and shoulders above the rest are Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, who formed one of the most lethal partnerships in Premier League history. Before Kane left to join Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, the duo were just three shy of 50 goal contributions together.

They also hold the record for the most prolific partnership in a single season, combining 14 times in the 2020/21 campaign, surpassing the previous record held by Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton—the original “SAS.” A memorable moment from that season came during a 1-0 win over Burnley, when Son scored the game’s only goal. Instead of celebrating, he immediately turned to Kane and asked, “Did you get the assist?” When Kane confirmed with a nod, the two erupted in joy, showcasing their unbreakable chemistry.