Who is the greatest attacking trio in Premier League history? The best attacking front 3 in The Premier League is open for debate, and here is our professional opinion that sorts out the best from the very best.
Ever since football transitioned into having three attacking players at the top, many players have taken their game to the next level in the Premier League. The “front 3” as we call them are integral to every attack for a team, including build-ups, switch of play and final delivery. So, who are the greatest attacking trios in Premier League history?
BestofBets takes a look at some of them as we rank the 5 greatest attacking trios in Premier League history!
Greatest attacking trios in Premier League history?
Best Front 3 in Premier League History
5. Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and Didier Drogba (Chelsea):
When Jose Mourinho started a revolution at Chelsea in the mid 2000s, he chose an incredible mixture of pace, skill and strength as part of his three attacking players at Stamford Bridge.
Arjen Robben contributed immensely to the pace and skill aspect whereas Damien Duff and Didier Drogba were excellent with their sheer power and attacking mentality.
However, due to injury issues with Robben and Duff, fans would have wanted to see more of this trio. One reason this trio makes the top five is that they went unbeaten in the 27 games they featured together, winning 25 of them.
This attacking trio had a fierce combination of strength, speed, skill and creativity that gets them onto one of the best Premiership front 3 we have seen play. Some Chelsea fans would say this is the best attacking trio in Premier League history.
4. Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero (Manchester City):
Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester City in 2016 and changed the footballing landscape in the Premier League by enabling his team to play beautiful football. Often playing with a front 3 and clever creative players like De Bruyne and David Silva behind them, this was surely one of the most lethal attacking trios in Prem history.
This front three was an extremely talented trio of Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero. They also had a backup trio which was extremely talented too in Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva.
Sterling, Aguero and Sane propelled Manchester City to the next level in their Premier League dominance, going on to score 100 points in the 2017-18 season, winning numerous Premier League titles and cup winners medals between them.
A few Man City fans would of course say this is the best trio in football history!
3. Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry (Arsenal):
We know many Arsenal fans will be agitated seeing this amazing attacking Premiership trio trio at number three in our list. There are reasons to it in terms of formation as well as achievements when it comes to continental success.
Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry are arguably the three greatest players in Arsenal’s history. Henry and Bergkamp were voted Arsenal’s greatest ever players by their fans.
When these three legends were playing together, Arsenal’s formation was always 4-4-2 which meant Pires would take up the left side of midfield instead of being an out-and-out member of the front three. Henry played as a left-striker whereas Bergkamp played as a right-striker.
This attacking trio propelled Arsenal to two Premier League titles and an FA Cup and were part of the legendary “Invincibles” team of 2003-04.
The striking trio featured in 128 Premier League games together in which they scored an impressive combined 272 goals.
Amongst the best front 3 in football history for Arsenal fans, bit with Pires arguably being a midfielder we couldn’t put this attacking trio and a front 3 which might have got them into positions 1 or 2 on our list. Arsenal fans would say this is the best front 3 in football history.
Do you think this it the best attacking trio in Premier League history?
2. Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane (Liverpool):
There is good reason for Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane to be ahead of the legendary Arsenal trio above, and the main reason is continental success including winning the Champions League. The best Prem attacking front 3 should have Champions League winners medals.
Jurgen Klopp converted wingers Salah and Mane into inside forwards when he started his Gegenpressing era at Liverpool.
These three attacking players came up with some of the greatest attacking moments witnessed by fans in the club’s history, which translated into titles, as they won a Champions League in 2018-19, the Premier League in 2019-20, continental titles like the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in 2019. They also won the FA Cup and the English League Cup in 2022.
This attacking front 3 could easily go down as one of the best trios in football history. But is the best front 3 in football history?
1. Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez (Manchester United):
This might sound like an overstatement to lifelong Manchester United fans, but Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez can be classed as the club’s modern-day holy trinity, an embodiment of greats – in the same ballpark as Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best.
The 2007-08 season especially saw this English-Portuguese-Argentine trio peak as they scored 79 goals and 30 assists between them in all competitions. They won the Premier League and the Champions League that season and Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or.
They stand number one is that they almost repeated the same feat in the 2008-09 season, reaching the Champions League final, winning the Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup and the League Cup.
Carlos Tevez, who completed his two-year loan at United, fell out with legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson over a permanent contract and left the club for arch-rivals Manchester City in 2009.
Cristiano Ronaldo went on to achieve his lifelong dream transfer to Real Madrid in a world record transfer deal at that time.
Wayne Rooney stayed on at the club and went on to become their greatest-ever goalscorer, and without doubt, a bigger legend than any other player in Manchester United’s Premier League era!
When looking at the best-attacking trio in Premier League history, we are including some of the best front 3 in football history.
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Greatest Premier League Front Threes Ranked Ever
How we judged the best Premier League trios
Our rankings combine on-pitch output, tactical fit and lasting influence at club level to assess each attacking trio objectively. We considered domestic and continental success, consistency across seasons and the moments that defined careers.
Scoring influence and goal contribution metrics
We looked at goals and assists per 90 minutes for each trio to gauge direct scoring influence. High combined contribution rates were a major factor in placing each unit on the list.
Tactical roles: how formations shaped front threes
Different managers used identical names in distinct ways, so we assessed how each player’s role fitted the manager’s system. Positional versatility, pressing triggers and creative responsibilities were all reviewed.
Continental success and silverware as criteria
Champions League success and major trophies were weighted in our evaluation because they test trios against the best teams in Europe. Domestic dominance matters, but continental performance often separates great sides from legendary ones.
Longevity, consistency and peak seasons considered
We balanced peak seasons that produced exceptional numbers against sustained periods of high performance across multiple campaigns. A trio that combined a memorable peak with consistent output ranked higher than one-season wonders.
Impact on club identity and fan perception
Some attacking units became synonymous with a club’s era and style, and that cultural impact was part of our assessment. We accounted for how memorable goals, nicknames and big-match moments shaped fan memory.
Statistical highlights for each nominated trio
Key metrics such as goal involvement, big-match returns and conversion rates were used to compare trios quantitatively. These statistics support the narrative assessment and help explain ranking decisions.
Key matches that defined these attacking units
We identified landmark fixtures where each trio produced defining performances, whether that was a title-clinching day or a Champions League classic. Those fixtures often crystallise a trio’s legacy.
Comparisons with other memorable Premier League trios
For context we compared our top five with other notable front threes across eras, noting where injuries, tactics or squad depth altered outcomes. This gives a fuller picture of where each trio sits historically.
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How betting markets reflect trio performance in matches
Bookmaker odds can show how markets rate a team’s attacking threat but they are not a definitive measure of player quality. Odds reflect public money, form and manager news rather than historical legacy.
Using insights for informed bookmaker comparisons
You can explore bookmaker comparisons on BestOfBets to see how different sites price markets for matches featuring these trios, and to compare odds, promotions and terms. If you choose to bet, do so responsibly and read offer terms carefully.
What these trios teach modern attacking coaches
Modern coaches can learn about balance, rotation and player roles from historic front threes, particularly how to combine inside forwards, creators and a central finisher. The best units married individual talent with tactical discipline.
Fan debates and subjective elements of ranking trios
No ranking is immune from passionate disagreement, and fan perspective often colours how a trio is remembered. Our list aims to be balanced and evidence-led while recognising that emotion plays a part in football memory.
Next steps for readers interested in betting responsibly
If you are considering placing a bet, use bookmaker comparison tools to find the terms that suit you and remember this content is informational, not financial advice. Always set deposit and stake limits, and seek help if gambling becomes a problem.
FAQs about Premier League attacking trios and betting
Which front three scored the most goals together?
The exact leaderboard varies by metric, but the Manchester United trio of Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez recorded extremely high combined returns in their peak seasons. Look at combined goals and assists totals across sustained spells to compare accurately.
Does continental success weigh heavily in our ranking?
Yes, success in Europe is an important factor because it tests a trio against a broader set of elite opponents. Continental trophies were used as a tiebreaker when domestic records were comparable.
Are formations responsible for how trios are judged?
Formations and manager tactics are central to how a trio functions, so we judged each unit within its tactical context rather than by raw positional labels. That approach explains why some great players appear in or out of front-three lists.
How important is longevity versus peak performance?
Both matter: longevity demonstrates sustained impact, while peak seasons often define a trio’s reputation. Our ranking balanced these elements to reward both all-time influence and exceptional individual campaigns.
Can fans disagree with our all-time trio rankings?
Absolutely — football ranking lists are subjective and designed to spark debate as much as to inform. We welcome differing views and encourage readers to explore the stats and matches that shape their own opinions.
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