Premier League Predictions: Who will win the Golden Boot?
As the Premier League begins later this week we’ve asked our in-house writers to give their predictions for the upcoming campaign, starting with the player that they believe will win the Golden Boot.
Liverpool’s Mo Salah picked up the award following a record 32-goal haul last season, but will he retain the gong or will it end up in the hands of another marksman come May?
Martin Laurence - Mohamed Salah
There is understandable concern as to whether Mo Salah has fully recovered from the shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League final to be able to play in an uninhibited way but his form in pre season suggests the Egyptian is ready for the new campaign. The sheer efficiency of Liverpool’s entire attack means that he sees plenty of scoring chances and the Reds potency in the final third could see him have the edge over Harry Kane once more. Another 32-goal haul seems unlikely but if he can get within four or five Salah could claim back-to-back Golden Boots.
Ben McAleer - Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero has already hit the ground running with a brace in the Community Shield 2-0 win over Chelsea. The Argentine averaged a goal every 93.8 minutes in the Premier League last season and if he can keep himself fit enough to last the distance, there is no reason why he can’t earn the golden boot this season, particularly if he can return last season’s average of a goal per game.
Josh Wright - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
You wouldn't really say Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set the world alight during his first six months at Arsenal last season, but the Gabon striker still scored 10 goals in 13 league appearances for the Gunners. Aubameyang's goalscoring rate has been phenomenal in the last few years and there is no reason why that shouldn't contunue this season, especially as he has a full pre-season under his belt.
Mo Salah is an exceptional talent but I don't think he'll repeat his phenomenal form this term. Someone else will stun the league this campaign.
2/2- Salah was unplayable last season (he actually scored 32 league goals, not 31) but he needs to prove he is more than a one-season wonder. Liverpool signing Shaqiri could eat into his playing time (something which would be a good move if it keeps him fresh), we don't know how his injury will be but you can guarantee opposition defenders will target his shoulder just in the hope it becomes a chronic issue and teams will have spent hundreds of hours devising game-plans to solely combat his play. It's unlikely that he will flop but we need to see how he does in the pre-Christmas fixtures before we can claim he is to be a genuine Golden Boot contender imo. Aubameyang only has a chance at the Golden Boot if he plays LF. He hasn't looked good at all in preseason while playing as the #9 but coming in from the left makes him difficult to mark and provides him with excellent shooting angles on his favoured right foot. I would make him an outside bet but would happily be proved wrong!
Harry Kane is the favourite imo. He has scored a minimum of 25 goals in the past 3 seasons, already has two Golden Boot awards and is Tottenham's primary goal source by far- a team who have scored a minimum of 70 in the past 3 league campaigns. The new stadium provides a potential fly in the ointment, however. Using the 25-goal mark as the target, Aguero has scored that number just once since signing for Man City (26 in 2014/15) and although his goal-per-game ratio last season was excellent, he missed 13 games. If he has an injury-free, suspension-free season where he plays 35 games then it is possible he takes home the award, but that scenario in itself is only just 'possible'. This is of course ignoring the probability that Man City will not be the overwhelming attacking force that they were last season. 1/2
@SteveHyland Even if Aguero stays fit he will share game time with Jesus so with current ratio he would score possibly 25 goals assuming Jesus plays more in CL and Aguero in PL. But I'd say City will be top scoring team next season as they have brought even more top players in their attack. They will hardly be as dominant this season but they have a wonderful chance to defend their title. Kane is logical candidate as his very consistent striker and I don't really see any reason for Spurs to struggle this season despite lack of signings. Salah should again have a great season but Klopp will surely increase rotation as you mentioned.
@Castle- City are definitely the favourites due to their squad depth. Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling(?) as a backup front three is pretty ridiculous. I still don't think they will score as many in the league as they did last season but it should work out well in the champions league being able to rotate 6 players. Fingers crossed we are both wrong about Kane. Ha