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Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United this summer amid huge fanfare. Fans were ecstatic as they welcomed their old hero home and there was reason to be optimistic as the Portuguese international has been in great goalscoring form in recent times.
Cristiano Ronaldo's signing might not have been what Manchester United needed
With Edinson Cavani already on their payroll and the likes of Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford on the come-up, Manchester United weren't in dire need of a striker. Yet when the opportunity to sign Cristiano Ronaldo came along, they did not have the heart to pass it up.
Ronaldo still got off to a great start to his second stint at Manchester United. He even scored a 95th minute for the Red Devils against Villarreal in a crucial Champions League group stage fixture.
But after scoring three goals in his first three Premier League outings of the season, Cristiano Ronaldo has fired blanks in his last three appearances. He has been nowhere near his best and might not be a part of the Premier League Golden Boot race this season.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five Premier League players who could outscore Cristiano Ronaldo this season.
#5 Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Liverpool had a torrid time in the 2020-21 season in the absence of their first-choice centre-backs. To make things worse, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino looked off pace and the burden of scoring goals fell on Mohamed Salah's shoulders.
But the Egyptian did a stellar job and almost single-handedly earned Champions League qualification for the Merseysiders. Restored to near-full strength in the new season, Liverpool are cruising. Sadio Mane is back among the goals as well and he looks sharper than ever.
The Senegalese has already scored five goals in eight Premier League appearances for Jurgen Klopp's men and looks hungry for more. This Liverpool side has a lot of goals in them and their incredible attacking trio of Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah are in terrific form.
Liverpool's next Premier League game is against Manchester United. It will be interesting to see how Cristiano Ronaldo fares against one of the best defences in the league and how effective Mane will be against a vulnerable United backline.
#4 Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
Romelu Lukaku returned to his former club Chelsea this past summer. After getting off to a promising start to his second stint at Stamford Bridge, the big Belgian has slowed down. In fact, there has been a visible dip in his form and he has gone goalless in six consecutive games now.
Despite that, Lukaku has three goals in seven games and might just need to take a breather to get back to his best. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel believes Lukaku's dip in form stems from being overplayed and being mentally exhausted after a testing year for both club and country.
Speaking to the press ahead of Chelsea's UEFA Champions League group stage fixture against Malmo, Tuchel said:
"It is difficult to judge whether he needs a break or is it better to keep him on the pitch.
"At this moment, I feel Romelu is a bit overplayed. I think he played in too many competitions over the summer, too many competitions with his country. He played the Nations League and he is a fantastic athlete and such a competitive guy that he never takes it easy.
"He wants to be out there and win. He wanted to have a good outcome for the European Championship with Belgium and now in the Nations League it was a huge match for him, it meant a lot personally to play for his country so he takes it seriously.
"If that does not work well he always puts it on his shoulders. He reflects about it and I feel him mentally tired."
Lukaku is a prolific striker and has scored 43 goals in 65 games for both club and country over the course of the last 12 months. Chelsea are also a solid unit and once Lukaku finds his form again, it will be difficult for Cristiano Ronaldo to outscore him.
#3 Michail Antonio (West Ham United)
West Ham United's big, burly striker Michail Antonio has predictably been in great goalscoring form in the new Premier League season. Antonio is one of the most important players in David Moyes' system and his presence is critical to the Hammers' exploits in the final third.
Antonio has scored five goals and provided three assists in seven Premier League appearances so far this season. The 31-year-old has looked sharp and has been consistent as well. His best returns in a Premier League season thus far has been 10 goals. He scored 10 apiece in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 Premier League campaigns.
He looks set to better it this season and has already scored five in just seven appearances. West Ham United have also looked really strong and capable of taking the game to the best teams in the league this term.
#2 Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Jamie Vardy wasn't at his best in the 2020-21 season. He scored just 15 goals in 34 appearances in the Premier League last term. The common consensus seemed to be that age is starting to catch up with the 34-year-old.
However, Vardy seems intent on putting all such concerns to rest in the new season. He has looked sharp and aggressive in the final third for Leicester City, scoring seven goals in eight Premier League appearances so far.
Vardy has lived up to his reputation as a big-game player and most recently came clutch in the Foxes' 4-2 thumping of Manchester United. He looks set to have another great season in terms of goalscoring. With Leicester City kicking into gear, Vardy could be back in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot.
#1 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah might just be the most in-form footballer in the world right now. The Liverpool forward has been in sensational form this season and his individual brilliance has helped the Merseysiders navigate a tough set of fixtures. Salah has already scored several breathtaking goals this season and there seems to be no stopping him at the moment.
He has scored 12 goals and provided four assists in 11 appearances across all competitions for the Merseysiders this term. The 29-year-old is also the joint-top scorer in the Premier League, with Jamie Vardy, with seven goals in eight appearances so far.
The form he is in, Salah looks like the early season favourite to go on and win the Golden Boot. Cristiano Ronaldo will need to do something incredible to outscore Salah this season.
