Today we are going to look at the all-time top scorers in the Premier League.

The Premier League has seen many players come and go since its inception in 1992. We certainly remember some and others never cross our minds again. Club teams constantly sign up new talent but only a few will ever come close to what the Top Five have accomplished.

We all know their names, so let’s just look at their impressive numbers and great goals again.

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1. Alan Shearer – 261 Premier League Goals

Alan Shearer, OBE, was born on 13th August 1970. Having started his career at Southampton, he went on to become one of the most prolific scorers of all time with Blackburn and his beloved Newcastle. After the first ten years of the Premier League, Shearer was named as the outstanding player of the decade. He is also listed in the FIFA one hundred greatest living footballers. Has there ever been a more lethal striker in the game?

Shearer played 63 times for England, scoring 30 goals. He captained the side on 34 occasions.

Now working as a pundit on BBC television’s match of the day, Shearer is taking occasional training sessions at Newcastle whilst he tries to obtain his coaching badges. Once his committments at the BBC have expired, it is likely that he will take on some sort of coaching role at the Tyneside club.

• Alan Shearer Goals (iFutbal)

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2. Andy Cole – 187 Premier League Goals

Andy Cole, or Andrew Cole, as he now prefers to be called was born on 15th October 1971. He started out at Bristol City, but came to prominance as an exciting goalscorer with Newcastle United. He was sold contoversially to Manchester United, a move that upset the Toon army, where he went on tio achieve huge success. He was the top scorer in Europe for United in the treble winning season of 1998-99, a season in which he and Dwight Yorke contributed 53 goals between them overall. Cole scored the goal that won the premier league title, and the goal that took them to the Champions League final. Has there ever been a better partnership than Cole and Yorke that season?

Since leaving United he has played at Blackburn, Fulham, Mancheser City, Portsmouth, Birmingham and Sunderland, without quite recapturing his best goal scoring form. He recently moved to Burnley on loan where he has scored 4 goals in 3 games and says he is revitalised.

Cole was awarded the PFA Young player of the year award in 1994, and played 15 games for Engand, scoring just one goal.

• Andy Cole Goals (iFutbal)

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3. Thierry Henry – 174 Premier League Goals

Thierry Henry was born on 17th August 1977. He moved to Arsenal after a relatively successful career in France and Italy, but was regarded by many as an overrated wide player. Arsene Wenger converted Henry to be a striker and the rest, as they say, is history. Has there ever been a more wonderful sight than the French striker in full flow?

Henry was twice awarded the PFA players player of the year award, and also won the Football Writers player of the year award on two occasions.

For France, Henry has scored 44 goals in 98 appearances and has World Cup and European Championship winners medals.

Henry now plays for Barcelona in La Liga, and although he has struggled to make the same impact for them that he made at Arsenal, he has still managed to score 6 goals in 18 games.

• Thierry Henry Goals (iFutbal)

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4. Robbie Fowler – 161 Premier League Goals

Robbie Fowler was born on 9th April 1975. He grew up in Toxteth, a rough area of Liverpool, and went on to become one of the best players ever to represent the reds. In 1995 and 1996 he was awarded the PFA young player of the year award.

His goal scoring exploits were always matched by the controversy surrounding him. He was particularly criticised when after scoring a goal he pretended to snort the paint from the six yard line, following rumours of a cocaine addiction. Presenting his backside to Graeme Le Saux, rumoured to be gay, was also an episode that Fowler should not be proud of.

On leaving Liverpool Fowler moved to Leeds and Manchester City, before moving back to Liverpool for a second spell. He joined Cardiff City in the summer last year, but has struggled with hip and ankle injuries, and is unlikely to play again this season. Has there ever been a more deadly finisher than Fowler at his best?

Fowler played 26 times for England scoring 7 goals.

• Robbie Fowler goals (iFutbal)

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5. Les Ferdinand – 150 Premier League Goals

Les Ferdinand, MBE, was born on 8th December 1966. He began his career at Queens Park Rangers before earning a high profile move to Newcastle United. On Tyneside, Ferdinand developed a frightening strike partnership with Alan Shearer. He moved on to have success with Tottenham, before playing for West Ham, Leicester, Bolton and Reading.

Ferdinand was awarded the PFA players player award in 1996 and scored 5 goals for England gaining 17 caps.

Has there ever been a more underrated striker than Les Ferdinand?

Ferdinand now does a large amount of charity work and is the premier league pundit for Setanta TV.

• Les Ferdinand Goals (iFutbal)

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Rest of the EPL 100 Club:

• Teddy Sherringham (Notts Forrest, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Portsmouth, West Ham) 150
• Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds United, Chelsea, Middlesborough) 128
• Michael Owen (Liverpool, Newcastle United) 127
• Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Sunderland) 123
• Ian Wright (Arsenal, West Ham) 113
• Dion Dublin (Manchester United, Coventry, Aston Villa) 111
• Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) 101
• Matthew Le Tissier (Southampton) 100
• Robbie Keane (Coventry City, Leeds, Tottenham) 100
• Frank Lampard (West Ham United, Chelsea) – 100
• Emile Heskey (Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Wigan) 100

Graham Fisher writes at www.viewsofafan.org