Who has the greatest 1st touch in PL history?

I always thought Bergkamp was the greatest technician back in the day. Is touch was insane.

Mbeumo has an unreal first touch though and probably the player that’s caught my eye recently.
 
Bergkamp gets the crown, Berba would be my personal #2. Although there were so many brilliant ones, most of them already mentioned — Cantona, van Persie, Mata, Hazard, Zola, Le Tissier, Henry, Özil, both Silvas, Mahrez. Dirk Kuyt as an outside of the box mention, you could never predict where the ball would go after he’d get a touch.

Zlatan had a few great ones and obviously has one of the most impressive highlight compilation of any player ever but was a bit inconsistent at it to be considered the best. He’s one of the more outrageous ones though.
 
Bergkamp, Berbatov, Henry, Aguero, Hazard, Mahrez, David Silva, Modric, Dembele, Okocha. Probably many more. How do you differentiate between all the players who's touch was immaculate?

Yorke and Hughes were the two that popped in to my head when thinking about centre forwards able to take the ball in expertly under immense pressure from a defender.
 
Sylar said:
Except the obvious, I seem to remember Valencia having a great first touch.

Yorke as well
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El Jefe said:
Everyone has said all the good ones already but an underrated first touch for us was Valencia. Nothing fancy but every ball that went to him got controlled perfectly in his stride.
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Came in to mention Valencia too. Never tried anything flashy but his first touch was immaculate and one of the most reliable I’ve seen.
 
sherrinford said:
Bergkamp, Berbatov, Henry, Aguero, Hazard, Mahrez, David Silva, Modric, Dembele, Okocha. Probably many more. How do you differentiate between all the players who's touch was immaculate?

Yorke and Hughes were the two that popped in to my head when thinking about centre forwards able to take the ball in expertly under immense pressure from a defender.
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Indeed, yet it's true that some players look better in certain circumsnatnces and at times like Berva, hardly caught doing it constantly on the run and such. Also when here was mentioned that Suarez was Hot as hell or Cold, it has to do with the tendencies on mostly forwards of gain that extra yard of space, milisecond what at times makes them fail some control.
 
harms said:
Bergkamp gets the crown, Berba would be my personal #2. Although there were so many brilliant ones, most of them already mentioned — Cantona, van Persie, Mata, Hazard, Zola, Le Tissier, Henry, Özil, both Silvas, Mahrez. Dirk Kuyt as an outside of the box mention, you could never predict where the ball would go after he’d get a touch.

Zlatan had a few great ones and obviously has one of the most impressive highlight compilation of any player ever but was a bit inconsistent at it to be considered the best. He’s one of the more outrageous ones though.
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Has anyone bettered that Le Tissier goal?

I think technically speaking this is the best PL goal in history. (On the left)
 
For their size. Le Tiss
For their effectiveness. Bergkamp/Cantona
For their artistry. Zola.
For the joy of the game. Okocha
 
Mata had a fantastic touch, but Berbatov and Bergkamp are clear top 2
 
I’d have to go with Bergkamp. Berbatov’s touch was ridiculous too in all fairness, but I’m giving the edge to Bergkamp purely because I feel he was more of a man for the big occasion.
 
It's obviously Bergkamp.

Of PL players active today, I'd say Salah. He absorbs long balls like weighted five yard passes.
 
Certainly, just in the EPL, Bergkamp takes this title. His first touch is like an art form, with many varieties – chest control, launching touch, side touch – he can do it all perfectly. Berbatov has smooth control in both one- and two-touch play, can handle high or fast balls, and flick or turn them into scoring chances. Mahrez comes to mind too – excellent overall control, especially under pressure and in one-touch situations. David Silva should also be mentioned, with his smooth and precise touch—not surprising, coming from the Spanish football school.

Others include Bernardo Silva (similar to David Silva, smooth and elite with instep and side foot), Cazorla (two-footed), Le Tissier, Zola, Ginola, Thierry Henry, Özil, Chris Waddle, Salah (incredible soft touch and control , especially with the instep, deserves to be among “the best”), Ronaldo, Firmino, Scholes, Kinkladze, Dembélé, Van Persie – all have elite first touch.

Underrated: Drogba – elite first touch, great chest control and one-touch, can bring the ball down smoothly; Alexis Sánchez also – many clips show it. Ibra and Thiago, of course, though they were in the EPL for a shorter time.
 
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Ozil had some of the most fun first touches I've seen. David Silva is also pretty impressive in that department.

Adel Taarabt? Cant remember his consistency but he could do things with the ball others couldnt.
 
Berbatov and Berkamp for me.
 
Fobal said:
...Henry, Aguero, Cristiano, Rooney, Mahrez , Thiago, Salah...also I find it difficult to see a real diff on the eye when it comes to these caliber of player. Also Berva or Dennis it's more probaly that they would receive the ball in a more passive manner, than what usually for instance it's the case for a Henry, Cristiano and what in full throtle they has to manage
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Yeah, that's true about Berbatov and Bergkamp. The simple fact that they were both quite slow/average at best with their overall speed means there has no doubt been players that are more well-rounded in the capabilities they bring to the game as far as the variety of situations they regularly utilise a great touch are concerned.
 
I’d separate these into two categories. Players who had/have a great first touch from a technical and functional perspective, your Bernardo Silva’s and Ronaldo’s of this world, and players who had that ability but brought a level of artistry to it few could ever match, your Bergkamps, Berbatov and Cantonas.

Berbatov had a first touch that was just pure silk. I don’t think it’s ever been bettered in the PL. Bergkamp is I think the most technically gifted player in PL history and had a first touch to match. Cantona was a true artist who could boggle the mind with how he controlled the ball, and Le Tissier has probably the best goals highlights reel of any player ever in the PL. More absolute stunners than anyone else.
 
El Jefe said:
Everyone has said all the good ones already but an underrated first touch for us was Valencia. Nothing fancy but every ball that went to him got controlled perfectly in his stride.
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Was going to mention Valencia as well. On his right foot at least!

Out of recent United players, Pogba.

But Berba and Bergkamp, oof.
 
Demyanenko_square_jaw said:
Yeah, that's true about Berbatov and Bergkamp. The simple fact that they were both quite slow/average at best with their overall speed means there has no doubt been players that are more well-rounded in the capabilities they bring to the game as far as the variety of situations they regularly utilise a great touch are concerned.
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Exactly, the majority of times they would trapp the ball in more passive situations, YET they still also did it while on the run to be fair (Denis goal against Argentina it's a thing of poetry).
The thing it's that a player like Cristiano, Henry, Suarez, Aguero would always be more prone to kill really hard balls on the run and at the same time they'll add some extra difficulty trying to mantein the pace and continuity in order too gain even more metres with a single movement attemp, this last thing at times can fail even having an excellent touch.

Out of the EPL Berva, Denis reminds me more of doing constantly this sort of play like this Dybala vid:

 
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