Sport

Salah, Son, Ronaldo in hot race for Golden Boot as Premier League top scorers 2021-22

Harry Kane clinched the Premier League Golden Boot award last season with 23 goals, narrowly beating Mohamed Salah to the prestigious award.

The race is on once more as the 2021-22 campaign heats up and there are a few more contenders in the mix for the top scorers accolade this time round.

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to Manchester United, while Chelsea have been boosted by another returnee in Romelu Lukaku, and both will be keen to etch their names into history.

With the battle commenced, GOAL brings you this season’s top goalscorers in the Premier League.

1. Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 22 goals

Two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah finished second in the race last term and in 2021-22 he is targeting his third individual prize as he attempts to fire Liverpool to the title. Over the course of the past four campaigns, Salah has averaged just under 24 Premier League goals a season and will be hoping to surpass that this year.

2. Heung-min Son | Tottenham | 21 goals

Heung-min Son enjoyed his best ever season from a goals perspective with Tottenham last term, scoring 17 goals in 37 Premier League appearances. The forward has scored double figures in each of the last five campaigns and could be a good bet to challenge for the Golden Boot as he aims to pick up the slack from Harry Kane.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo | Man Utd | 18 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo finished last season as the top scorer in Serie A with 29 goals in 33 appearances and dispelled any doubts that he might slow down on his return to Old Trafford with two goals in his first game back. The Manchester United faithful will be hopeful that the Portugal phenomenon can help clinch a Champions League spot this term.

4. Harry Kane | Tottenham | 17 goals

Normally near the top of the scoring chart, Harry Kane has struggled to hit his normal heights for Champions League-chasing Spurs this term.

5. Diogo Jota | Liverpool | 15 goals

Diogo Jota made an instant impact at Liverpool when he joined the Reds from Wolves in 2020-21 and he has offered a different type of goal threat to Roberto Firmino. The Portugal international will feel he can contribute even more this campaign after seeing his maiden season curtailed by injury.

6. Kevin De Bruyne | Man City | 15 goals

Kevin De Bruyne has picked up his form mid-season after regaining full fitness, and he’s been a major part of another Manchester City title charge.

7. Sadio Mane | Liverpool | 15 goals

Liverpool winger Sadio Mane shared the Golden Boot award with team-mate Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018-19, but his goal return has suffered in recent campaigns. The Senegal star laid down a marker of intent at the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign though.

8. Jamie Vardy | Leicester City | 14 goals

Despite advancing into his mid-thirties, Jamie Vardy has shown few signs of slowing down on the goals front and he continues to lead the Leicester City line. By now a legendary player for the Foxes, Vardy will be expected to chip in with strikes throughout the campaign for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

9. Wilfried Zaha | Crystal Palace | 13 goals

Wilfried Zaha is a key player for Crystal Palace and continues to show his worth by scoring goals.

 

11. Ivan Toney | Brentford | 12 goals

Brentford forward Ivan Toney scored a record-breaking 31 times in the Championship last term and has found goals tougher to come by in the top flight this term.

12. Jarrod Bowen | West Ham | 12 goals

After establishing himself as one of the Hammers’ top attacking stars, Jarrod Bowen is earning plenty of plaudits and could be nearing an England call-up.

13. Riyad Mahrez | Man City | 11 goals

It’s been another influential campaign for Riyad Mahrez, whose combination of goalscoring and ball distribution have helped his club thrive without a traditional striker.

14. Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | 11 goals

Bukayo Saka has stood out again this year following a breakout campaign last term.

The creative forward has been a key goalscorer as the Gunners have looked to shake off a slow start to the 2021-22 season.

15. Mason Mount | Chelsea | 11 goals

Chelsea playmaker Mason Mount has never before broken into double figures for goals scored in a league campaign, but will feel that is the minimum requirement for a player of his ability.

16. Teemu Pukki | Norwich City | 11 goals

Norwich City may be enduring a difficult campaign back in the Premier League, but Teemu Pukki still knows how to find the back of the net.

17. Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa | 11 goals

Watkins is Villa’s top scorer in this season’s campaign, as he continues his fine form in what is only his second term in the top flight.

18. Emmanuel Dennis | Watford | 10 goals

Nigeria international Emmanuel Dennis has thrived since making the switch to Watford from Club Brugge, getting his share of goals for the Hornets.

19. Raphinha | Leeds United | 10 goals

Leeds United’s Brazilian star Raphinha was involved in 15 Premier League goals last term (six goals, nine assists) and, in 2021-22, he has picked up where he left off.

20. Emile Smith Rowe | Arsenal | 10 goals

The young England midfielder has enjoyed a promising start to the 2021-22 season, netting in a 2-0 win against Leicester at the Emirates.

21. Bruno Fernandes | Man Utd | 10 goals

Bruno Fernandes came third in the 2020-21 Premier League top scorers list with 18 goals and the playmaker continues to star for Manchester United. Some may have feared the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo would impact Fernandes’ goal prospects, but the Portugal compatriots have dovetailed nicely.

22. James Maddison | Leicester | 10 goals

James Maddison may be in the Leicester team for his creative qualities, but he also knows his way to the back of the net.

23. James Ward-Prowse | Southampton | 9 goals

James Ward-Prowse has established himself as a star player for Southampton in recent years and has been one of their most prolific players this season.

24. Phil Foden | Man City | 9 goals

Improving year on year, the Phil Foden continues to share the scoring load at Man City while demonstrating his superb versatility across a number of different positions.

25. Richarlison | Everton | 9 goals

Brazil international Richarlison and his goals are going to be a key factor in whether Everton can avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.

26. Michail Antonio | West Ham | 9 goals

An unlikely candidate for Premier League top scorer, Michael Antonio scored double figures in the last two seasons and the West Ham striker hit the ground running in 2021-22. David Moyes and the Hammers faithful will be hopeful he can continue that habit until the end of the season.

27. Gabriel Jesus | Manchester City | 8 goals

The Brazilian has found his scoring form in the latter part of the season, aiding his side in their title challenge against Liverpool.

28. Romelu Lukaku | Chelsea | 8 goals

Much was expected of Romelu Lukaku when he returned to Chelsea in a big-money move from Inter in 2021, but the Belgian striker has found the going tough at times.

29. Conor Gallagher | Crystal Palace | 8 goals

Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher has flourished under Patrick Vieira’s guidance at Crystal Palace, chipping in with goals and assists.

30. Neal Maupay | Brighton | 8 goals

Brighton striker Neal Maupay cracked double figures on the goal charts in his first season in the Premier League, but fell short with just eight goals last season. With Graham Potter’s style bedding in at the Amex Stadium, the French forward will be confident of surpassing 10 goals in 2021-22.

31. Bernardo Silva | Man City | 8 goals

Sometimes overlooked as part of a team packed with world-class stars, Bernardo Silva is proving more and more that he is a key cog in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City machine.

32. Leandro Trossard | Brighton | 8 goals

Belgian forward Leanadro Trossard is enjoying his best season in front of goal for the Seagulls as his stock continues to rise.

33. Maxwell Cornet | Burnley | 8 goals

Burnley are hoping that the efforts of Maxwell Cornet in the final third of the field will help to see them to Premier League safety.

34. Said Benrahma | West Ham | 8 goals

Said Benrahma may not start every game for West Ham, but his creativity and keen eye for goal make him a useful asset to David Moyes.

Ameh Jazzia-Becky

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