Erling Haaland is the holder, while Ollie Watkins has said he wants it, but who will end the campaign with the Premier League’s Golden Boot?
Haaland’s record-breaking feats last season made it a one-horse race to finish as the Premier League’s leading scorer, though that’s not the case this time around in an open field.
We look at the current standings and the favourites to win the Premier League’s Golden Boot.
Dominic Solanke – Bournemouth (17 goals)
It wasn’t so long ago that Dominic Solanke’s top-flight credentials were doubted. The forward had failed to find his feet in the Premier League during spells at Chelsea, Liverpool and Bournemouth and managed just six league goals last term to add weight to that notion.
This season, the 26-year-old has exploded. Solanke has scored 17 goals in 32 league appearances for Andoni Iraola’s side, setting a new record for the most goals in a single Premier League campaign by a Bournemouth player.
History maker, record breaker ???? pic.twitter.com/87XgmJH5Fk
— AFC Bournemouth ???? (@afcbournemouth) April 14, 2024
An England call-up did not materialise in March, though Solanke will hope a fine run-in can persuade Gareth Southgate to include him for Euro 2024. The Premier League’s Golden Boot would certainly offer him some argument.
Alexander Isak – Newcastle (17 goals)
Alexander Isak’s red-hot run of form has kept Newcastle in contention for European qualification this season. The Swedish striker has seven goals in his last six league appearances after netting twice in the weekend win over Tottenham at St James’ Park.
It’s now 17 for the season in the Premier League for Isak, who has built on an impressive debut campaign at Newcastle to produce a prolific season. His haul comes despite starting just 21 league games, with Isak boasting the best minute-per-goal ratio (106 minutes) in the Premier League this season.
Sit back and enjoy ????
All 21 of Alexander Isak’s goals so far this season! ???????? pic.twitter.com/copLgFFZqk
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 15, 2024
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool (17 goals)
Mohamed Salah’s name is rarely far from the top of the Premier League’s goal standings and the Egyptian has produced another elite campaign for Liverpool.
The 31-year-old has 17 goals and nine assists in the Premier League, leaving him in contention for both the Golden Boot and Playmaker awards.
Salah is a three-time winner of the Golden Boot after past successes in 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2021/22, and a fourth would equal Thierry Henry’s record for the most accolades.
Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa (19 goals)
Ollie Watkins moved to 19 goals for the campaign with a goal at Arsenal last weekend, scoring the second as Aston Villa won 2-0 at the Emirates.
Watkins has had a career-best campaign under Unai Emery to hit 26 goals in all competitions, while his 19 in the league have equalled Christian Benteke’s club record for a Premier League season.
The 28-year-old is aiming to become only the third non-Big Six player, after Sunderland’s Kevin Phillips and Leicester’s Jamie Vardy, to win the Golden Boot this century and the first Aston Villa to lead the top-flight for goals since 1981.
He’s also the only player on this list not to have scored a penalty this season.
“As a striker, you want to score as many goals as possible. I’m not going to lie, I’m chasing that,” Watkins said after the win at Arsenal.
Just watch the away end, again. ???? pic.twitter.com/kr4YCBdYv8
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 15, 2024
“I’m doing all that I can to help the team to win and for me to score as many goals and assists to my teammates as possible. I definitely have my eyes on the Golden Boot. I’m not going to lie to you.”
Cole Palmer – Chelsea (20 goals)
Cole Palmer’s sensational season at Chelsea continued this week as the 21-year-old scored FOUR goals in the club’s 6-0 win over Everton.
Palmer has been a revelation since swapping the fringes of the Manchester City squad for a regular role at Chelsea, scoring 20 times and providing nine assists in the Premier League. It has been a remarkable campaign for the winger, in what is essentially his first full campaign at this level.
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— Premier League (@premierleague) April 16, 2024
That he is joint-top of the Premier League for goals, level with a certain ex-teammate, is truly astounding.
His place on the plane for Euro 2024 is surely assured.
Erling Haaland – Manchester City (20 goals)
Erling Haaland leads the chase alongside Palmer as the Manchester City goal machine seeks back-to-back Golden Boot accolades.
The 23-year-old broke the Premier League record for goals in a single campaign last season (36) and has produced another fine season even if he has failed to reach those heights again.
An absence over the festive period saw him miss an extended period, though he’s still returned 20 goals in 25 league starts for the champions.
His 2️⃣0️⃣ @premierleague goal of the season! ????@ErlingHaaland ???? pic.twitter.com/eLsxKbgftF
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 13, 2024
Even given the form of the chasing pack, he’s still the man to beat.
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