As we approach the halfway stage of the Premier League season, the race to win the Premier League Golden Boot is intensifying, with Mo Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang currently leading the way on ten goals apiece. Some notable names have won the award in previous years including Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba and Thierry Henry.
Liverpool’s Salah, who scored 32 goals in 36 appearances last season started off slowly this season, but his hat-trick against Bournemouth on the weekend helped him to re-establish his dominance at the top of the scoring charts. Despite sitting at the top of the table, the whole Liverpool team have been underwhelming in comparison to the second half of last season.
Arsenal’s Aubameyang has also struggled in the early part of the season, but has enjoyed periods of goal scoring potency. Arsenal’s good form has contributed to Aubameyang’s bid to end the season as top scorer. The team are currently on a 21-match undefeated streak and Aubameyang has played a major role in getting Arsenal across the line.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane remains the favourite to claim the award though, at a price of 13/5, but whether or not he can help fire Tottenham to the Champions League remains to be seen. It is unlikely though as they are priced at 25/1 on Paddy Power. He sits in third place in the goal scoring chart, with 9 goals. Tottenham are in third place but are only the fifth highest scorers in the league. Fortunately for Harry Kane, he is the club’s main goal output and is expected to keep up with the leaders and maybe even overtake them as the season progresses.
Before the New Year Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal all play four Premier League matches, providing the current top three scorers with an opportunity to place a marker for their rivals. For Aubameyang, he will have to score against struggling Southampton and Burnley as well as Brighton & Hove Albion and the final game before 2019 begins is against the current only undefeated team in the Premier League Liverpool.
Liverpool face Manchester United, Wolves, Newcastle United and Arsenal and Salah will need to continue in his good vain of form if he is to pull away from the chasing pack. With some difficult fixtures in December and the likelihood of him being rested, Salah could fall away if he is not careful.
For Harry Kane, his Tottenham team will be taking on Burnley, Everton, Bournemouth and Wolves and with the likes of Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Lucas Moura all supplying him with opportunities to score, he could easily finish the calendar year as the top scorer.
There are other potential winners of the award come the end of the season, most notably, Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero. The striker is currently injured and not expected back until January, which could mean he falls even further behind the current top scorers. The Argentinian striker has so far scored eight Premier League goals and his absence has been notable as City experienced their first league defeat of the season away to Chelsea.
The race to win the Golden Boot remains wide open, although once December is over, we will have a clearer idea as to who will win the award. With a mixed bag of games for all four clubs, their strikers will need to be in their best form to help them claim the Premier League title.