With just a handful of games left in the [league 8] season, storylines from across the league are beginning to wrap up. However, one that just a month ago seemed completely over but has now sparked into life is the race for the Golden Boot.
Liverpool’s Egyptian superstar [player 8] has led basically all season by a comfortable distance, but he’ll be beginning to look over his shoulder as the season winds down. Those who don’t think the golden boot race is over can check out betting offers like these to find the best deals for putting some money on the Golden Boot race. In this article we look at the competitors to the award, and how they got there.
Mo Salah
In January, it looked like no one was even going to get close to catching Salah in the Golden Boot race. When the new year rolled around, the Egyptian had already amassed 15 league goals, and was on pace for one of the most prolific seasons in history. Salah went through a lean patch, but returned to form in a big way against Manchester United, scoring twice.
When asked about Salah’s lack of goals in 2022, Trent Alexander-Arnold told The Mirror:
“I think really it’s unfair at the moment, what people are saying. The levels he gets himself to, he’s kind of a victim of his own success. He’s still top goalscorer in the Premier League and he’s only one behind me in terms of assists! And people are saying he’s having a bad run of form?! He’s nearly top goalscorer in the Champions League as well. What he has done for us over the last five seasons has been outstanding. Look, it’s unfair for people to say he is going through a bad patch. We all have belief that he is going to score goals for us. It’s only a matter of time before he puts it in the back of the net again. That’s it.”
While his goal scoring output may not have been where he wants it to be in recent months, his teammates have been very forthcoming in their praise for him and the influence he has on games even when he doesn’t score. [player 1078] spoke to The Athletic after the FA Cup Semi-Final win over Manchester City and said:
“I thought Mo’s work rate was different class. He won’t get the headlines because he didn’t score. He expects to score and so does everyone else but he helped the team massively and sometimes that’s more important because we want to win trophies. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little.”
Salah is still undoubtedly the favourite to win the award, but he has a few players hot on his heels and in a good run of goal scoring form.
Heung Min Son
As is so often the case for [team 6], it has been a rollercoaster ride this season. The Nuno Espirito Santo era feels like it was centuries ago, but it’s important to remember quite how bad Spurs were at scoring goals in the early stages of the Premier League. Since [coach 455384] joined however, Spurs look a different beast, and after a bedding in period, they seem to have found their feet under the Italian. The biggest beneficiary of that has undoubtedly been Korean sensation [player 4313]. Son is now Salah’s biggest rival for the Golden Boot, just five goals behind the Liverpool forward on 17 for the season. Nine of the Spurs’ forward’s goals have come since the beginning of the current calendar year, and his almost telepathic connection with Harry Kane has been impressive to watch. If Spurs are to realize their top-four ambitions, it is vital that the Korean keeps firing.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Many pundits have suggested that [player 580] may be one of the primary reasons for Manchester United’s poor performances this season, which may have some truth to it, given his inability to press and defend from the front, considering he is 37 years old. However, there is no doubt that Ronaldo is still one of the best finishers around, and is still capable of beating teams on his own. Just ask Norwich and Tottenham, both of which he scored sensational hat tricks against to lead his team to a 3-2 win. Ronaldo is seven goals behind Salah’s 22 for the season, but one thing is for sure – you can never count Ronaldo out. His team are still just about in the race for the top four and Champions League qualification and if they were to achieve it, it’s a safe bet that Ronaldo would be the man to lead that charge.
Diogo Jota
Ronaldo’s Portuguese teammate Diogo Jota is level with him on Premier League goals with 15 for the season. He has been a revelation for Liverpool since he joined from [team 29], and this season has usurped Roberto Firmino as Liverpool’s first choice number nine. He would need an extremely impressive run-in if he is to catch his fellow Liverpool forward Salah, but don’t count him out. Despite his diminutive stature, he has proven to be a huge threat from crosses, and has scored more headers than anyone else in the Premier League this season, which given that he plays with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson is an extremely useful attribute to have.
Conclusion
The Golden Boot is still certainly Mo Salah’s to lose at this point in time, and he should be able to hold off the charge from Son, Ronaldo and Jota. Liverpool fans will be hoping he can find his scoring boots soon though, as their side keep chasing a famous quadruple. This run-in for the Premier League season is going to be one of the most intense in history, with the title race, European spots and relegation battle all still to be decided and looking like they will go right to the wire, and it’s not just those that will be close fought, as the Golden Boot race is could be coming down to the final day too.
