Erling Haaland’s record-breaking goal feats have taken some of the interest away from the Premier League’s Golden Boot race.
Haaland has finished as the Premier League’s top scorer in each of the last two seasons and has taken a mighty lead at the top of the current standings after just five games. A record 10 goals in just five fixtures to open the campaign suggest it will be near impossible – barring unforeseen circumstances – for any player to overhaul the Manchester City man.
But what about if Haaland wasn’t involved?
For those interested in the latest odds, Cheekypunter.com is useful to shop around for value. Here, we’ve looked at the five favourites to finish as the Premier League’s top scorer, excluding Haaland.
Premier League top scorer favourites – without Haaland
Luis Diaz – Liverpool (14/1)
Luis Diaz has started the season on fire with the Liverpool winger looking re-energised under Arne Slot. The Colombian has scored five goals in his first five appearances, with only Haaland having outscored Diaz in the Premier League so far this season.
Diaz needs just three more goals to match his league return from 2023/24, which on current form he could pass in a matter of weeks. Ending the campaign as the league’s leading scorer might be ambitious for a player yet to reach double figures in a Premier League campaign, though Diaz has previous in purple patches.
LUIS DIAZ!!
What a counter-attack this is from Liverpool 😍💫 pic.twitter.com/wjWfsPxJU8
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 25, 2024
He scored 14 goals in just 18 league appearances for FC Porto over the first six months of the 2021/22 season, a return that led to his £37m January move to Anfield.
Alexander Isak – Newcastle (14/1)
Alexander Isak finished as the third-highest scorer in the Premier League last season after netting 21 times for Newcastle.
The Swedish striker became the first Newcastle player since Alan Shearer in 2003/04 to score 20+ top-flight goals in a campaign.
Isak has had a slow start to the current campaign with one goal in three league appearances but has the credentials to be near the top of the chart once again.
Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa (10/1)
Aston Villa’s top-four finish was built on the goals and assists of Ollie Watkins last season, as the forward scored 19 times and provided a league-leading 13 assists.
It was a career-best campaign for the England international, who has evolved into one of the Premier League’s best number nines under Unai Emery. He’s started the season sharply with three goals in five games, though is facing increased competition from the in-form Jhon Duran.
Nicolas Jackson – Chelsea (9/1)
Is Nicolas Jackson the solution to Chelsea’s number nine issues after all?
After spending the summer linked with signing centre-forwards, Chelsea have found their current one can be quite handy. Jackson has scored four goals in five appearances so far this season after a brilliant brace in the 3-0 win at West Ham last weekend.
Nicolas Jackson has been cooking for Chelsea 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UQ5IcsMAqQ
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) September 25, 2024
The Senegalese striker was criticised last season after underperformance in his xG, but Jackson has the raw attributes to excel in English football. A return of 20 goals in 50 appearances for Chelsea is not to be scoffed at, even if he does require refinement.
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool (4/1)
Mohamed Salah sits perennially near the top of the Premier League’s Golden Boot standings, having averaged 22 league goals per season since arriving at Liverpool.
Now Liverpool’s fifth-highest scorer of all time, he could pass Billy Liddell and Gordon Hodgson before the end of the campaign and has three goals in five Premier League games this season.
Liverpool FC’s attack is cooking under Arne Slot 😮💨
Mohamed Salah ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️🅰️🅰️🅰️
Luis Díaz ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️
Diogo Jota ⚽️⚽️⚽️🅰️
Cody Gakpo ⚽️⚽️🅰️
Darwin Núñez ⚽️🅰️
Federico Chiesa 🅰️ pic.twitter.com/teFBpDxcE6— OneFootball (@OneFootball) September 26, 2024
Salah is a three-time winner of the Golden Boot after winning the award in 2018, 2019 and 2022, with only Thierry Henry (4) having won the accolade on more occasions. He’s the clear favourite with Haaland excluded, given his incredible consistency on Merseyside.
Read – The latest favourites to win the 2024/25 Premier League
See more – The favourites to sign Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool
