For me Matt le Tissier takes the cake, managing to score 25 goals from midfield in the 1993/94 season for a Southampton team that finished 18th. Other strong contenders:
- Luis Suarez 13/14, honestly maybe the best individual season a player’s ever had in the league. 31 goals and 11 assists in 33 games in a Liverpool team that was largely Europa League level aside from Gerrard and Sturridge.
- Kevin Phillips 99/00, scoring 30 goals and winning the European Golden Shoe for newly promoted Sunderland.
Who’ve you got?
In 1997 I think he was pretty much the best European player but I wouldn’t say he carried us that season, it was probably peak of Parlour for me and Overmars also comfortably into double figures in the league. Good keeper, solid defense and Vieira establishing himself.
The final paragraph I would point at Vieira more than Bergkamp. Arsenal simply didnt replace his ball winning ability until they signed Torreira.
Don’t get me wrong he’s a terrific player. I went to an event with Paul Merson last week and he said Bergkamp was easily the best player he played with “I didn’t think anyone could be that good at football”. I just don’t think he carried Arsenal that season to the extent eg Suarez did in 2013(?) Or Le Tissier in 1993.