As the season reaches its home straight, we know which two teams will be challenging for the title and at least two of the three clubs heading for relegation. One race that is still wide open, though, is that of the Premier League’s Golden Boot. With less than 10 games remaining, there are at least six players in with a great chance to finishing at the top of the goalscoring charts. While previous seasons has seen two or maybe three players battling it out to win the Golden Boot at this point of the season, we’re now looking at a race between a host of forwards, all within three goals of each other.
Here’s a look at the favourites:
Sergio Aguero – Manchester City
One of the most consistent goalscorers in world football, Sergio Aguero again finds himself in and around the top of the Premier League scoring charts. In spite of his incredible scoring record in England, it always seems as though the Manchester City forward is somewhat overlooked when it comes to talk of the league’s best striker. Closing in on the 20-goal mark in the Premier League for the fifth straight season, Aguero’s goals between now and the end of the campaign could be crucial in City’s hopes of winning the title.
Mo Salah – Liverpool
If you just listened to the media you could be forgiven for thinking this season had been a complete disaster for Mo Salah. He might not have been quite as prolific as he was last season – in which he ended the campaign as the Golden Boot winner with 32 league goals – but Salah is still in with a fantastic chance of retaining the league’s top goalscorer prize. With Liverpool battling it out with City in the race for the title, it would certainly be useful for the club’s hopes if their Egyptian forward suddenly went on the sort of goalscoring run he enjoyed last season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Arsenal
It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to people that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in and around the top of the scoring charts. The Gabon international has been prolific wherever he’s played, picking up from where he left off last season following his move to the Emirates from Borussia Dortmund. Despite Arsenal being almost 20 points off the top of the table, Aubameyang has scored consistently throughout the season and is a favourite with those punters visiting Oddschecker to check out the betting odds for the upcoming Premier League games.
Harry Kane – Tottenham
It’s probably fair to say that if he hadn’t of missed a chunk of the season at the beginning of the year, there’s a very good chance Harry Kane would be the firm betting favourite to win a third Golden Boot. As it is, though, the England captain will need to chase down Aguero at the top of the charts and fight off the challenge of those players around him. But despite his relatively modest total this year compared to his recent season returns, Kane’s reputation as one of world football’s best goalscorers has only increased. The question is now just how long Spurs can keep hold of a player that the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus et al would love to sign.
Sadio Mane – Liverpool
Without Sadio Mane, there’s a good chance Liverpool wouldn’t be competing for honours in the Premier League and the Champions League. While Salah and Roberto Firmino have struggled for form in recent months, Mane has been sensational, scoring 11 goals in 11 games, including two in Liverpool’s famous win against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals. Often the unsung hero of Liverpool’s attacking trio, the Senegal international has proven beyond any doubt that he is as important to this team as any of his colleagues.
Raheem Sterling – Manchester City
Raheem Sterling has often been criticised for his lack of goals during his career, but that isn’t something you can accuse the England man of this season. With 15 league goals to his name, Sterling has also been in fine form in front of goal with the national team. Playing with a new confidence following England’s World Cup exploits and backing from Pep Guardiola, we may be seeing more of Sterling competing for the Golden Boot.
