'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Mohamed Salah emerged as a world-class talent last season, pipping Harry Kane for the Premier League Golden Boot in 17/18. He helped Egypt reach the World Cup, and also Liverpool makes the top four.
The Premier League has many great strikers in it, such as the aforementioned Salah and Kane, but Aubameyang, Lukaku, Aguero, his Liverpool teammate Firmino, Lacazette, Sterling, etc. are all top quality forwards in their own rights.
It's very simple logic, but goals win games. And as strikers exist to score goals, then it stands to reason their importance and value.
But it's also a matter of personal and professional pride, as much as individual quality, in winning such an accolade. Whoever wins it in the coming season will feature amongst greats like Henry, Shearer, van Nistelrooy, Suarez, and Kane.
Last season saw the emergence of Mohamed Salah as a prime attacking threat, and it's interesting to see if he can continue.
However, Harry Kane is still at large, and he is buoyed by winning the World Cup Golden Boot. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has fit in well at Arsenal, and will be a prime factor in this year's Golden Boot race.
Moreover, Aguero started this season's account well with two goals in the 2018 Community Shield. Lukaku is strong, and we may see comparatively unlikely winners. Sanchez was very sharp at Arsenal but has been muted at Man United. Can he re-discover his goal-scoring touch? Vardy got almost 20 PL goals last season, and whilst not getting younger, will he get more goals? Could a wide forward, akin to Salah, win it? Or will it just be the domain of strikers only?
Who is to say? What is telling is that there is plenty of competition for the top prize, and we'll see both favorites and a few more surprises for the top crown.
MOHAMED SALAH (LIVERPOOL)
Salah emerged from Chelsea as an underutilized player, but came in with a bang to win the prize last season.
Some are saying he is just a one season wonder, which is disrespectful in my mind. However, with the general high of Liverpool at the moment, and Klopp's attacking style, it seems that he will get plenty of opportunities to score goals and retain his title. Firmino and Mane remain as prime attacking threats, and he's in a good position to retain his title.
If Liverpool are to win their first league title since 1990, and with the big signings made thus far, Salah needs to be firing regularly to ensure they challenge at least.
CHANCES TO WIN - 8/10
HARRY KANE (TOTTENHAM)
Kane has won it twice before, in 15/16 and 16/17 respectively.
He also is the World Cup Golden Boot winner, having emulated the achievement of former Spurs striker no less Gary Lineker. He is the last English player since Lineker to attain this feat.
This season is an interesting one for Spurs. They have not to date signed anybody, though their new ground can be a boon and much as a hindrance. It could take them time to get familiar with their new surroundings, or simply being at a new ground could bolster them.
Either way, Kane needs to score regularly, as the top four dynamic has altered. City are the strongest, whilst their rivals Arsenal are looking to change and improve. Chelsea has issues, though they are still rivals for top four, whilst Liverpool have bought well. United are still viable, with many top players.
Kane is in a prime position to regain the title, largely since he's done it before, and must be high in confidence due to the WC Golden Boot triumph. Surely if he were up for sale, he would command £200m at the least, and possibly a world record transfer fee. If Tottenham is to sustain its top four place, Harry Kane's scoring prowess must be maximised to its fullest.
CHANCES TO WIN 8/10
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (ARSENAL)
After being a prime striker in the German Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, he came to Arsenal in January whilst the club was under a cloud. Wenger was nearing the end of his illustrious tenure, and the club suffered defeats in the League Cup Final to Man City, and the Europa League semis to Atletico Madrid. It also finished sixth in the league, which was its worst league finish since 1995.
Aubameyang's form though was a major boon, and he managed 10 goals in 13 PL games. Had he been involved in the Europa League, Arsenal may well have won it outright. As a proven world class striker, he fit in well to Arsenal's shape and style, and is surely crucial to the club regaining a top four spot.
The utilisation of him and Alexandre Lacazette will also aid things, as will the presence of Ozil and Mkhitaryan. Ozil would be more energised at Arsenal, especially given his noted resignation from the German national team over racist treatment by the media.
Aubameyang's style is reminiscent of Arsenal greats like Ian Wright and Thierry Henry, and he has every opportunity to shine as they did for the club. Arsenal needs him to, if it's to get back Champions League football next season.
CHANCES TO WIN - 8/10
ROMELU LUKAKU (MANCHESTER UNITED)
Lukaku had an excellent World Cup. He didn't score many goals there, but his pace, workrate, and teamplay, were instrumental in Belgium finishing third place in the tournament. The current Belgian Golden Generation are perhaps not as overrated as many thought.
His United form in 17/18 was also good, scoring 27 goals in all competitions, and 16 goals from 35 appearances. Whilst not many attacking additions have been made, he has every opportunity to build on this.
The World Cup success of his United teammate Pogba will give him support, and we may see a more confident Pogba emerge due to this.
United look sure to get top four, though if they are to challenge their once-stated "noisy neighbours", they need Lukaku amongst others to be on their games.
CHANCES TO WIN - 7/10
SERGIO "KUN" AGUERO (MANCHESTER CITY)
Kun Aguero, whilst over 30 now, has been a PL mainstay for years. He recently scored his 200th Man City goal, and has been instrumental in them being a major force in the PL. His goal famously helped them win the league in 2012, and whilst not winning many Golden Boots in his time, he has nonetheless been a highly prolific forward.
City has many attacking options apart from Kun. Sane, Sterling, and now Mahrez, can all feature, with de Bruyne and Silva adding from midfield. If City are to retain their title, then they need Aguero firing on all fronts.
The City legend can cement himself as a PL legend, if he were to win the PL Golden Boot this season, and he holds every opportunity to do this.
CHANCES TO WIN - 8/10
ALEXIS SANCHEZ (MANCHESTER UNITED)
Sanchez did very well at Arsenal, but at United hasn't hit the same heights.
However, he may need time to settle, and whilst at Arsenal he nearly won the Golden Boot at Arsenal in 16/17, though was pipped by both Lukaku (when at Everton) and Tottenham's Kane.
To use a cliche, a player cannot come bad overnight. And his talents were a major part of Chile's golden generation and back to back Copa America wins.
So can Alexis win it? If he can translate his Arsenal form to Man United, why not? This is an if though, and he can be a major outsider for the prize.
CHANCE TO WIN - 6/10
ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE (ARSENAL)
Lacazette had a reasonable season for Arsenal in 17/18.
He was dogged by injury for part of it, but once he returned he managed to score liberally.
Whilst Aubameyang is arguably the main man for Arsenal in the attack, there are signs that Unai Emery is looking play both him and Lacazette up top. And could prove beneficial for both, and lethal for PL defenses.
Lacazette has had a season to bed into both Arsenal and the Premier League. And if Arsenal is to regain a top four place, they need to get Lacazette firing on all cylinders.
CHANCES TO WIN - 6/10
JAMIE VARDY (LEICESTER CITY)
Vardy had a reasonable World Cup, though didn't score. And has been scoring goals since his club's PL win in 2016.
He may have fallen somewhat since then. But he still holds great pace and finishing ability, and did get over 20 PL goals last season.
Leicester naturally have not challenged much for the league since they won it. But we've seen players from other non-competitive teams win the Golden Boot.
He is also over 30, but considering his rise from Fleetwood Town, to winning the Premier League, and playing for England in the World Cup, it's wrong to put the Golden Boot past him.
CHANCES TO WIN - 6/10
MY CHOICE - PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (ARSENAL)
He will face some very stiff competition, but given his form from January to May 2018, he can be a prime contender for the Golden Boot in the coming season.
At the least, Paul Merson (with an evident Arsenal connection like Aubameyang) of UK-based SKY Sports agrees with me.
Another reason is that given his pace, he may do well in the pressing game that Emery wishes to implement at Arsenal, which includes pressing from the front. It's self-evident how this would benefit him. He also, unlike other strikers, would play with a dedicated striker, which Aguero, Kane, Lukaku, etc. wouldn't have. Not many teams these days play 2-up-top, which Arsenal will do to a good extent. The man in question, which is Lacazette of course, can great aid Aubameyang in reaching this target.
It will be an interesting season, and the Premier League is blessed to have this degree of great forwards.
