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Ranking the best penalty takers in Premier League history strictly by conversion rate.
When the subject of great penalty takers in Premier League history is being discussed, players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and other all-time greats come to mind.
But the numbers tell a different story as none of these legends and others who come to mind are among the top penalty takers in Premier League history.
In fact, stats reveal Ivorian and Manchester City legend Yaya Toure to be the most effective spot-kick converter in the Premier League among players to have taken at least 10 penalties.
But Yaya doesn't stand alone, here are the rest of the most lethal penalty takers in Premier League history according to Opta stats.
Top 10 greatest penalty takers in Premier League history
Here 10 players with the best penalty conversion rate in Premier League history. Only players to have taken at least 10 penalties are considered.
1. Yaya Toure - 100% conversion rate
The accolade for the best penalty success rate in Premier League history is held by former Manchester City midfielder and dominant powerhouse, Yaya Toure.
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The Ivorian star is the only player with a 100% conversion rate among players to have attempted at least 10 Premier League penalties since the inception of the competition.
He took 11 penalties in the Premier League for Manchester City in his eight-year spell at the club and scored with every single one of them.
Seven of Yaya’s 11 Premier League penalties turned out to be the winning goal in the game, while five put his Manchester City team into the lead, a truly clutch player.
2. Cole Palmer - 100% conversion rate
Chelsea's talisman has a 100% penalty conversion rate in the Premier League, having played 10 penalties in the competition.
The Englishman scored nine in his first season with the club, adding a 10th against Brighton in his second season.
His heroics from the spot earned him the nickname 'Ice Cold, as he never seem to be fazed when facing the goalkeeper from the spot.
3. Matt Le Tissier - 96% conversion rate
Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier is next with 25 penalties scored from 26 attempted in his 16 years in the South Coast playing for the Saints.
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Le Tissier's only miss was his third Premier League penalty, saved by Nottingham Forest’s Mark Crossley in March 1993 and he would go on to score his next 23 attempts.
4. Danny Murphy - 95% conversion rate
Danny Murphy built a reputation as a tough tackling midfielder in the Premier League for the likes of Liverpool, Charlton Athletic, Tottenham, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers but he was also extremely proficient from the penalty spot.
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Murphy scored 18 out of 19 penalty attempts in his long career with his only miss coming for Fulham against Manchester City in April 2008 as Joe Hart made a save to ruin his 100% record.
5. Callum Wilson - 94% conversion rate
Callum Wilson is the first active player on the list and he still has a long time to improve on his current Premier League record of 16 goals from 17 attempts.
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The Newcastle striker missed only one of his 17 in the competition which came while he still played for Bournemouth against Cardiff City in August 2018, with Neil Etheridge being the goalkeeper to destroy Wilson’s 100% record.
6. James Beattie - 94% conversion rate
English striker James Beattie was fairly prolific in his playing days, especially for Southampton, Everton and even Stoke City where he also built a reputation for converting penalties.
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Beattie took 17 total penalties in the Premier League, converting 16 of them.
7. Julian Dicks - 94% conversion rate
Apart from his mischievous last name, Julian Dicks was a solid defender with a great eye for goal in his Premier League career in which he played for Birmingham, West Ham and Liverpool.
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Dicks scored 15 of his 16 Premier League penalties, earning himself a 94% conversion rate.
8. Erling Haaland - 93% conversion rate
Erling Haaland has only been in the Premier League for a couple of years but he is breaking almost every record at incredible speed so it only makes sense that he's included in this.
Haaland has scored 15 penalties in 16 attempts, leaving him as one of the most lethal players from the spot.
The Norwegian's only miss came against Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, though sending the goalkeeper the wrong way but unfortunately hitting the bar.
9. Ivan Toney - 92% conversion rate
Ivan Toney might be out of action for a while but you can bet on the lethal striker to score a penalty kick and his 92% conversion rate from 12 yards is more than enough evidence.
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The Brentford striker has scored 11 of his 12 penalties so far, with his only miss coming in a home defeat to Newcastle United on 8 April 2023.
10. Thierry Henry - 92% conversion rate
No goalkeeper ever saved a Thierry Henry penalty in the Premier League but the Frenchman still missed two of his 25 attempts from 12 yards out.
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Both of Henry's penalty misses for Arsenal in the Premier League came via hitting the post, a testament to his nature as a lethal finisher.
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