Pascal Groß leads the Premier League's best starts to 2026/27

Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Pascal Groß has been named the Premier League's standout performer across the opening five matches of the 2026/27 season, after producing three goals, three assists and the division's leading chance-creation total.

  • Competition: Premier League 2026/27
  • Sample size: First five matches of the season
  • Top performer: Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion) — three goals, three assists, most chances created
  • Leading scorer: Erling Haaland (Manchester City) — five goals in five appearances, all from open play
  • Level on direct goal contributions: Groß and João Pedro (Chelsea), both on six
  • Selection criteria: Goals, assists, chance creation, defensive contribution, goalkeeping performance and overall influence

Five matches are not enough to determine how an entire campaign will unfold, but they provide the first meaningful opportunity to identify the competition's standout performers. The ranking below considers what each player has contributed within the context of their position rather than focusing exclusively on attacking statistics.

The confirmed top 10

The numbers

  • Pascal Groß: three goals, three assists, league-leading chance creation
  • Erling Haaland: five goals in five appearances, all from open play; leads the league for expected goals and total shots
  • João Pedro: three goals, three assists — level with Groß for most direct goal contributions
  • Rayan Cherki: three goals and two assists without completing every possible minute
  • Bukayo Saka: three goals in five matches, one of the highest expected-goals totals in the league, and fouled more than any other player
  • Alexander Isak: four goals in five matches — the second-highest scoring total in the Premier League

1. Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Pascal Groß has arguably been the Premier League's most complete performer during the opening five matches. The Brighton midfielder has produced three goals and three assists, giving him six direct goal contributions, and he has also created more chances than any other player in the division.

Groß's influence extends beyond the final pass. He helps Brighton control possession, provides accurate set-piece delivery and understands how to move into spaces from which he can affect the game. His lack of exceptional pace has never prevented him from influencing Premier League matches; he compensates through awareness, positioning and the ability to make decisions before pressure arrives.

He is capable of receiving possession centrally, moving into wider areas or dropping deeper to help Brighton build from defence, a versatility that makes him difficult for opponents to track. His set pieces remain another major source of danger, with Groß able to vary the pace, height and direction of his deliveries to give Brighton several different ways to attack corners and free-kicks.

Combining three goals, three assists and a league-leading chance-creation total makes him the strongest overall candidate for the best start of the season.

2. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Erling Haaland has begun another Premier League campaign at the top of the scoring charts. The Manchester City striker has scored five goals in five appearances, all from open play, and he also leads the league for expected goals and total shots.

Haaland's start is particularly important because it has helped Manchester City win each of their opening five league matches. His finishing remains extremely difficult to defend against: he requires very little time to convert an opportunity into a shot, often finishing crosses and cutbacks with his first touch.

His physical profile also creates problems before the ball arrives. Defenders must account for his strength, acceleration and movement across the penalty area. Attempting to remain tight can leave them vulnerable to his speed, while dropping deeper creates space for City's attacking midfielders. Haaland has also continued to develop his contribution outside the box, occupying multiple defenders, providing a direct outlet and creating space for runners moving around him.

Groß's broader creative contribution places him narrowly ahead, but Haaland has made the most decisive goalscoring start in the league.

3. João Pedro (Chelsea)

João Pedro has made an outstanding start to the season with Chelsea. The Brazilian forward has recorded three goals and three assists, placing him level with Groß for the most direct goal contributions in the Premier League.

João Pedro's importance comes from the variety of roles he can perform. He is comfortable leading the attack, dropping between the lines or drifting towards either flank. That movement makes it difficult for centre-backs to decide whether they should follow him: if they step forward, he can create space behind the defensive line; if they remain in position, he can receive the ball, turn and influence the attack.

His finishing has also been efficient. He has converted opportunities from close range while demonstrating the balance and composure required to shoot under pressure. He has been equally valuable as a creator for Rodgers and Palmer, with his ability to attract defenders creating openings for teammates and his close control enabling him to operate in crowded parts of the pitch.

Chelsea's overall results have been inconsistent, but João Pedro's individual contribution has been among the most productive in the league.

4. Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)

Rayan Cherki has made a spectacular individual start to the new campaign. The Manchester City playmaker has contributed three goals and two assists despite not completing every possible minute, and his creative output has also been among the best in the competition.

Cherki gives City a different kind of attacking threat. He is comfortable receiving possession in narrow spaces and can create opportunities with either foot. His two-footed ability makes him difficult to contain, as defenders cannot simply show him towards one side because he can pass, dribble or shoot from several different angles.

Cherki also plays with a high level of imagination. He is willing to attempt reverse passes, outside-of-the-foot deliveries and disguised through-balls that most players would not immediately recognise. The risk associated with those decisions is balanced by the quality of the opportunities they create; City already possess several players capable of retaining possession, so Cherki's willingness to attempt something unexpected adds another dimension.

The next challenge is maintaining that influence over a larger sample. His start has been excellent, but opponents will adjust as they become more familiar with his role.

5. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Bukayo Saka has started the season as Arsenal's most decisive attacking player. The winger has scored three goals in five matches while generating one of the highest expected-goals totals in the league, and he has also been fouled more frequently than any other player, demonstrating how difficult opponents have found it to stop him legally.

Saka remains most dangerous when receiving possession on the right and moving towards his stronger left foot. Defenders understand what he wants to do, but his strength and close control make preventing it extremely difficult. He has also continued to improve his movement without the ball, no longer relying exclusively on receiving possession near the touchline; he can attack the back post, move into central scoring positions and combine around the penalty area.

His ability to draw fouls provides Arsenal with another advantage, with opponents often deciding that conceding a free-kick is preferable to allowing him to advance into a more dangerous area. Arsenal's first defeat arrived immediately before the international break, but Saka's individual performances have provided a strong foundation for their campaign.

6. Alexander Isak (Liverpool)

Alexander Isak has produced the second-highest scoring total in the Premier League. The Liverpool striker has scored four goals in five matches, with his movement, composure and technical quality enabling him to settle quickly into a prominent role.

Isak is not a conventional penalty-box striker. He can drop into midfield, move towards the flank and carry possession before returning to central scoring positions. That flexibility gives Liverpool several ways to construct attacks: Isak can provide a target for a direct pass, combine with Florian Wirtz or Cody Gakpo and make runs behind the defensive line.

Why Groß edges out Haaland

The ranking is not a scoring chart, and that distinction decides the top two. Pascal Groß has six direct goal contributions and the highest chance-creation volume in the division, meaning his output arrives in two separate phases of the game. He is Brighton's set-piece taker, their possession organiser and their most reliable source of a final pass.

Erling Haaland has the purest goalscoring record in the league: five goals from five, all from open play, plus leading totals for expected goals and total shots. He has also driven Manchester City's perfect start of five wins from five. On a like-for-like attacking basis, nobody is close.

The tiebreaker is context by position. A striker who scores five is delivering exactly what his role demands; a midfielder who creates the most chances in the league while also scoring three and assisting three is over-delivering on two fronts. That is why Groß takes first place on the narrowest of margins, with João Pedro and Rayan Cherki completing a top four in which City hold two entries.

Talking points

  • Should a five-goal striker in a 100% winning team ever be ranked below a midfielder, or is chance creation being overvalued in this list?
  • Is Rayan Cherki's rating too high given he has not completed every possible minute in City's opening five fixtures?
  • João Pedro's six goal contributions have not translated into Chelsea consistency — does individual form matter if the team stutters?
  • Bukayo Saka being fouled more than any other player raises the question of whether referees are protecting him enough.

What happens next

The next round of Premier League fixtures will provide the immediate test of whether this group can sustain their starts. Haaland and Cherki return with Manchester City defending a five-win record, Groß and Brighton must show his creative load is repeatable, Saka resumes with Arsenal after their first defeat before the international break, and Isak continues up front for Liverpool alongside Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo.

Frequently asked questions

Who has made the best start to the 2026/27 Premier League season?

Pascal Groß of Brighton & Hove Albion tops the ranking, having produced three goals, three assists and created more chances than any other player in the first five matches.

How many goals has Erling Haaland scored in the 2026/27 Premier League?

Erling Haaland has scored five goals in five appearances for Manchester City, all from open play, and he leads the league for expected goals and total shots.

How many goal contributions does João Pedro have this season?

João Pedro has three goals and three assists for Chelsea, giving him six direct goal contributions — level with Pascal Groß for the most in the Premier League.

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