Even the best teams, crafted and molded to one particular tactical system that brings the best out of their biggest stars, have their game-changers who they can look to when the chips are down.
The player that gets that goal or assist as the clock ticks into the red and the chance at a point or three is fading with every passing second, and with it hopes of survival, a spot in the Champions League, or a new crown.
Especially now we’re in the depths of the Premier League run-in, when results just mean that much more, that’s when the big players step up for their team and justify the often eye-watering price tags hovering above their heads.
Cole Palmer, for example, showed Manchester United and Gareth Southgate just how vital he can be in the dying embers of a game, striking in the 100th and 101st minutes to seal a 4-3 win for Chelsea last week.
Here, Mail Sport runs you through the players that have come up clutch most often for their side throughout the season in front of goal as we hurtle towards the dramatic finale.
Mo Salah’s most recent game-changing input came in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Man United
Cole Palmer (centre) came up with two goals in added time to help Chelsea beat Man United
Opta stats have highlighted which players from every team in the division have contributed the most goals and assists that either draw a team level in the game, or hand them the lead.
Granted, that could be a second-minute goal to go 1-0 up, but these clutch moments could also be a Palmer-esque 101st-minute winner to snatch a dramatic victory.
Ultimately, this list does not highlight defensive acts that have made the difference in the big games; William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes might feel aggrieved for being the only side to keep Erling Haaland from having a shot on target across both meetings.
At the bottom of the pile is Fulham duo Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Joao Palhinha, who have both got a combined five difference-making contributions.
The forward has scored an impressive five times to give his side the lead, while Palhinha has three equalising goals, as well as one goal to pull ahead and one assist to draw level.
Burnley and Everton are both battling it out at the bottom of the table to ensure their prolonged Premier League status, but their most ‘clutch’ players have only cropped up on six occasions.
Burnley’s Lyle Foster has twice given his side the lead and once drawn level, while Dwight McNeil has set up three lead-taking goals for the Toffees as well three further clutch moments.
With seven contributions is Yoane Wissa for Brentford, who has cropped up with five lead-taking goals as well as an equaliser, and the Democratic Republic of Congo international has also set up one further goal to put his side in the driving seat.
William Saliba played a crucial role in keeping Erling Haaland quiet to help Arsenal earn a point away to Manchester City
Dwight McNeil has been directly involved in six goals for his side that have affected the outcome of the game
Yoane Wissa has come up with seven decisive contributions in games for Brentford this term
Crystal Palace, Luton and Sheffield United each have players that have come good with eight contributions to either equalise or take the lead via goals or assists.
Palace have looked to star man Michael Olise unsurprisingly, with four equalising goals in his eight contributions, while Jordan Ayew has three assists to take the lead and three to draw level as well.
Luton Town’s Carlton Morris has three equalisers too for his eight clutch moments, while Oliver McBurnie has four to his name.
Wolves’ trio Hwang Hee-chan, Pedro Neto and Pablo Sarabia have nine goals or assists that have changed games, as does Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United, with four lead-taking goals and two equalisers for the Portuguese star.
On 10 clutch moments is Nottingham Forest’s goal-scoring hero Chris Wood, who has five equalisers and four goals to put his side in the lead, alongside Brighton’s Pascal Gross, whose four equalising assists and four assists for the lead stand out.
Hardly a shock that Tottenham have looked to Son Heung-min more than any other player this term – his four goals for the lead and three to draw level underline his importance to the side, perhaps more so given the fact he is the club captain now.
Ahead of the South Korean, though, is West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and Newcastle star Alexander Isak. England hopeful Bowen has six goals to take the lead among his 12 game-changing moments, while Isak has seven.
The next two are perhaps surprises given the teams they play for, but then again, both Arsenal and Manchester City have an embarrassment of riches among their ranks.
Crystal Palace have looked to Michael Olise for four equalising goals so far this campaign
Pedro Neto has earned many an admiring glance from afar with his stellar performances in 2023-24
Alexander Isak is one of two players with 12 contributions to either lead or equalise in matches
Bukayo Saka is the Gunners’ go-to guy with 13 clutch moments, six of those goals to take the lead and five to assist similar strikes, while Phil Foden – that’s right, not Erling Haaland – is Man City’s man for the big moments, netting six times to go ahead in his 14 game-changing acts.
It felt like every top team in the league was linked with Dominic Solanke’s services in January, and he looked destined for a spot on the plane to Germany. The striker comes in fourth on the list with 15 clutch points.
He has a very impressive 10 goals to take the lead – the joint-most in the list – as well as three equaliers, and has been a standout for a very impressive Bournemouth side this term.
Another England hopeful comes in third with 17 moments that have impacted games. Ollie Watkins has eight goals and four assists that have given his side the lead, while he has also levelled for Unai Emery’s men twice this term.
But the two sides with the most game-impacting players were Chelsea and Liverpool, with – shock – Palmer and Mohamed Salah leading the way respectively with 18 clutch moments.
Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s talisman and has given them the lead six times so far as they bid for a first Premier League crown in 20 years
Phil Foden has become the player to make the difference for Manchester City in 2023-24
Ollie Watkins’ 17 contributions to impact the result have put him right at the front of the queue for a spot behind Harry Kane at the Euros
| Premier League 2023-24 | Team | Equalising Goals | Equalising Assists | Lead Taking Goals | Lead Taking Goals Assists | Combined | ||
| Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 13 | ||
| Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa | 2 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 17 | ||
| Dominic Solanke | Bournemouth | 3 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 15 | ||
| Yoane Wissa | Brentford | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7 | ||
| Pascal Gross | Brighton and Hove Albion | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 10 | ||
| Lyle Foster | Burnley | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| Cole Palmer | Chelsea | 4 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 18 | ||
| Jordan Ayew | Crystal Palace | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||
| Michael Olise | Crystal Palace | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
| Dwight McNeil | Everton | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| Bobby De Cordova-Reid | Fulham | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||
| Joao Palhinha | Fulham | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | ||
| Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 18 | ||
| Carlton Morris | Luton Town | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||
| Phil Foden | Manchester City | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 14 | ||
| Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 9 | ||
| Alexander Isak | Newcastle United | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 12 | ||
| Anthony Elanga | Nottingham Forest | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 10 | ||
| Chris Wood | Nottingham Forest | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 10 | ||
| Oliver McBurnie | Sheffield United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||
| Son Heung-min | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 11 | ||
| Jarrod Bowen | West Ham United | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 12 | ||
| Hwang Hee-chan | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | ||
| Pablo Sarabia | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | ||
| Pedro Neto | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
The former Man City star has put Chelsea ahead 10 times and levelled things another three – which would be enough to put him joint-sixth on the list – alongside three assists for lead-taking strikes and another for setting up an equaliser.
His importance to Chelsea cannot be understated – he has been the standout from an underwhelming season in west London, his feats matched only by one of Europe’s greatest players and biggest goal threats.
Salah, so many times the hero for Klopp and Co, also has 18 game-changing moments this term as Liverpool battle it out for a second Premier League crown, and arguably has the best spread of numbers.
The Egyptian has seven goals for the lead, four each for equalisers and assisting goals that put the Reds ahead, and another three for setting up levelers in the Premier League.
