5 dark horses for the Premier League Golden Boot

After six games in the Premier League so far this season, Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Morata, and Romelu Lukaku lead the race for the golden boot with a joint tally of six goals each.

Despite a poor start to the season in August, Harry Kane has found his goalscoring boots as he has netted two hat tricks in his last two outings for Spurs. Kane will be looking for his third consecutive golden boot and has scored four goals in the premier league this season.

Alexis Sanchez and Eden Hazard who also generally tend to be in the running for the Boot, have both had slow starts to the season.

Aguero, Lukaku, and Morata are front-runners this campaign but Harry Kane could become just the third man in PL history to win three golden boots after Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry.

Having said that, here we look beyond the obvious and identify five dark horses who are in the race for the grand prize this time around:

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#5. Mohamed Salah

Liverpool’s new signing from Roma, Egyptian winger, Mohamed Salah joined the Merseyside club on a five-year deal worth €35 million and has adapted to life at Anfield superbly, notching four goals in just six appearances in the Premier League.

An extremely quick, attacking player Salah holds the current record for most shots on target against any opposition in the league so far. Salah has proved himself to be a good acquisition by Klopp, who has a number of attacking options to choose from in his side. Salah could be a contender for the Premier League’s golden boot race this season as Liverpool look rampant going forward.

With Mane, Coutinho, and Firminho to help the Egyptian, the number of chances being created by Liverpool has substantially increased this season in comparison to last. Given Klopp likes to play a heavy-metal style of football, Mo Salah could be in for a spectacular start to life back in the Premier League provided he continues to score goals.

#4. Raheem Sterling

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The 22-year-old English international has found the back of the net five times in as many appearances for City this season. Pep Guardiola’s side has been unstoppable in the last couple of games, becoming the first side in the Premier League era to hit five goals past three teams in consecutive games.

Sterling has found himself playing a vital part in the process, improving his work-rate and running off-the-ball and converting more chances than he’s done all career long .He has taken his time to adapt to Manchester City and his start to this season has taken everybody by surprise. England will be hoping for more of the same from the former Liverpool player throughout the course of the season leading into the WC in Russia next year.

A candidate for the golden boot this season given his superb start, Sterling will only continue to get better this term as City and Guardiola are aiming to be crowned Premier League champions.

#3. Alexandre Lacazette

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Arsenal’s record €52 million signing from Lyon, Alexandre Lacazette, has begun his life at Arsenal rather well, scoring in all of the Gunners’ home games this season. Arsenal have had their slowest start to a league in seven years with a heavy defeat to Liverpool at Anfield and a shock away loss at Stoke, but Wenger remains positive the club will have a good league run this season.

Vital to their success in all competitions, Lacazette is an excellent finisher with neat ability to link up play in small places. Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will be eager to develop a partnership with the Frenchman as they try to get Arsenal back into Europe’s elite competition.

A lethal goal-scorer and a former French league golden boot winner, Lacazette could be in the running, come the end of the season to bag the prestigious honour.

#2. Gabriel Jesus

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City's 20-year-old Brazilian wonder kid Gabriel Jesus lit the Premier League on fire at the end of last season with some spell-binding performances leaving audiences shocked and wanting more of the kid. Jesus has continued from where he left off last season, with the Brazilian already having notched four goals this campaign.

Jesus who was signed at the start of last season joined the Citizens in January and made an instant impact before getting injured. Post his injury and return in April, the young Brazilian produced a glimpse of what was to come in the next couple of season. A sure shot pick in Brazil’s WC squad, Jesus will only better his chances of making the squad if he keeps banging in goals in all competitions.

With Guardiola playing Jesus and Aguero as part of a front two, a lethal partnership is in the works for City, as the Brazilian could pip his South American teammate Aguero to the golden boot this campaign, provided he stays healthy and puts in good performances.

#1. Jamie Vardy

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England and Leicester City frontman, Jamie Vardy has had a good start to the season bagging five goals in six appearances this campaign. The former Premier League winner has never won the golden boot during his time in the England's elite league.

Vardy and Leicester had a sub-par season last term, in comparison to their title-winning exploits the season before last, but the Englishman looks to be in fine touch so far this campaign.

However, Leicester has had a bad start to the season and currently languish in 17th place, despite Vardy's goals so far to this campaign. Keen to make England's WC squad, Vardy has stepped up his game and could yet be a contender for the elusive golden boot he so very dearly seeks.