The race is once again on for the coveted Premier League Golden Boot, with established superstars set to battle it out for the prestigious crown of the English top-flight’s leading goal scorer.
Erling Haaland stands heads and shoulders – figuratively, literally – above his Premier League colleagues in the top scorer stakes for the 2023/24 season. He has to be, he was that lethal in front of goal last season as the Norwegian hitman set a new single-season Premier League goals record (36 goals) en route to the Golden Boot award in 2022/23.
Runner-up Harry Kane who, in most other years, would have walked away with the crown last time out after netting 30 strikes, has left Spurs for German giants Bayern Munich, so it will be interesting to see who Haaland will face for the Golden Boot in 2023/24.
Man United’s Marcus Rashford, who rediscovered his scoring boots last season, Newcastle United’s pair (Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak), and a host of potent attackers at Liverpool (Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo) or Arsenal (Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli) are all good shouts.
With nets set to bulge regularly throughout the 2023-24 campaign, GOAL is on hand to record the exploits of the most prolific marksmen around.
1Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 18 goals
Erling Haaland made last season’s top-scorer battle one of the most boring Golden Boot races in Premier League history.
The Norwegian colossus ended on 36 league goals from 35 matches in 2022/23, registering four separate hat-tricks, making an absolute mockery of those who said he would need time to acclimatise to life in England last season.
The Norse titan is in a league of his own and has shown no signs of slowing down in the 2023-24 campaign. Unless he suffers an unfortunate injury or Guardiola drops him to the bench for an extended period, Haaland will likely be the division’s leading hitman next year.
2Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 16 goals
While Mohamed Salah still managed an impressive 19 goals last season despite Liverpool’s sluggish form, the Egyptian did not reach his customary heights of brilliance. He will be desperate to improve his and the Reds’ fortunes this season.
3Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa | 16 goals
Ollie Watkins has consistently impressed for the Lions over the past three seasons. The England international has been a key figure in Villa’s revival under Unai Emery and has been revived since the Spaniard succeeded Steven Gerrard in October last year.
He scored 15 goals in the Premier League last season, with his efforts helping Unai Emery’s side qualify for the Europa League. He has started this campaign in great form too, and he’ll hope to keep that up.
4Dominic Solanke | Bournemouth | 16 goals
Dominic Solanke registered a brilliant 13 goal contribution in the top flight last season, standing out as one of the Cherries’ best-performing players as Bournemouth secured survival with relative ease.
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5Jarrod Bowen | West Ham United | 15 goals
With Rice off to north London, a new star must emerge for the Hammers and the onus will once again be on Conference League hero Jarrod Bowen in the final third. A goal-scorer and creator who always gives his team a chance in attacking transitions, his sparkling displays were a key reason why West Ham finished last season in fine form, and lifted their first European title since 1965 in the form of Europa Conference League.
6Son Heung-min | Tottenham Hotspur | 15 goals
Following a 23-goal season in which he shared the Golden Boot with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, the South Korean produced only 10 goals, and six assists in an underwhelming season last time out. The arrival of former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou – who plays an expansive brand of football – and the addition of creative midfielder James Maddison means Son is steadily getting back to his best, which is vital for Spurs as he will have to carry much of the scoring burden after Harry Kane’s exit.
7Alexander Isak | Newcastle | 14 goals
The silky Swede spent the first third of the 2022/23 campaign out with a thigh injury, and it wasn’t until after the World Cup that Newcastle fans got a taste of what their record-signing had to offer. Upon his return to first-team action, Alexander Isak was like a new January signing, netting eight in their last 19 games, and assisting two, firing the Magpies to Champions League qualification.
Flair, audacity, skill to bamboozle defenders, and lethal finishing quality, he is starting to show his undoubted promise and looks increasingly likely to establish himself as one of the top strikers in the English top-flight in 2023-24.
8Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | 13 goals
Bukayo Saka evolved into one of the most exciting and consistent young players in world football last term. His stellar performances and 14 goals were key to Arsenal’s impressive title charge last season and Mikel Arteta will be demanding even more from the 21-year-old as the Gunners look to go one step better.
