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The 2020-21 Premier League season might be only eight games in but has already produced its fair share of drama and controversy. Leicester City are the surprise league leaders at this stage, as Brendan Rodgers' refreshing Foxes lead the way with 18 points.
Due to the new handball rule, an unbelievable amount of penalties have been awarded in the opening weeks of the season. Additionally, referees have had to make some hard calls and have come under immense scrutiny for their decisions in the past few months.
Nevertheless, the current campaign has seen bags of goals already and promises to be the most intriguing Premier League season in history. Reigning Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy has started the season in fine form and spearheaded Leicester City to the top of the table, but with the former England international manage to retain the award?
On that note, here are the best strikers in the 2020-21 season so far.
#5 Danny Ings | Southampton
Danny Ings has become a firm fan favorite at Southampton and quickly established himself as a top-class striker after recovering from his injury-laden spell at Liverpool. The Englishman, who has returned to the national team setup due to his outstanding performances in recent months, has been one of the most reliable goalscorers in the top tier under Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Known for his work rate, off the ball movement and finishing ability, Ings is an experienced campaigner and is Southampton's talisman. The 28-year-old is currently injured but led the line to devastating effect in the opening weeks of the season, as he notched five goals for the Saints.
#4 Ollie Watkins | Aston Villa
Aston Villa splashed the cash to sign Ollie Watkins from Brentford in the Championships. If the opening weeks of the season are anything to go by, Dean Smith and co have pulled off an absolute masterclass in the transfer market. The Englishman has settled in seamlessly at Villa Park and established himself as one of the most exciting players in the country, as he continues to turn heads in the Premier League with his performances.
Watkins has also proved that he is quite the big-game player, having scored a stunning hat-trick against reigning champions Liverpool in the 7-2 victory and a brace against Arsenal in the 3-0 triumph earlier this month.
The 24-year-old has already proved that he's worth the money and looks well set to add to his tally in the coming weeks.
#3 Jamie Vardy | Leicester City
Leicester City talisman Jamie Vardy has aged like fine wine and carried on from where he left off last season. The veteran striker is the reigning Golden Boot winner and has already notched up eight goals for the Foxes, as Brendan Rodgers' side find themselves at the top of the table as things stand.
Vardy's relentless running and no-nonsense finishing inside the penalty area has seen him become one of the biggest matchwinners in the Premier League, while his ability to show up when the stakes are high has seemingly cemented his legendary status.
The former England international is sure to retire as a Premier League legend but has shown with his performances that he is no closer to hanging up his boots.
#2 Harry Kane | Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane seems to be returning to top form again and has been on the forefront of a new-look Tottenham Hotspur team that could compete for the Premier League title. The England captain, who has been Spurs' talisman for several years now, seems to have recaptured his mojo under Jose Mourinho and looks set to enjoy his most productive season in the top-flight.
Kane's all-round ability sets him apart from most strikers in the game, as he is capable of scoring goals as well as creating them with equal measure. Alongside Son Heung-Min, the England international has led Spurs' title charge and could well be in the reckoning for the Golden Boot this year.
With the Euros coming up, Gareth Southgate's main man is showing signs of returning to his absolute best.
#1 Dominic Calvert-Lewin | Everton
Dominic Calvert-Lewin's rise under Carlo Ancelotti has one of the stories of the calendar year. The Englishman has finally come of age and looks the part in the Premier League, having established himself as one of the world's leading marksmen in the 2020-21 season. With eight goals to his name for Everton in the current campaign, Calvert-Lewin is also a full England international and is part of an exciting young group under Gareth Southgate.
The 23-year-old predominantly comes alive inside the box and has improved his finishing drastically in the past 12 months, while his heading ability is amongst the best in the business. Everton are reaping the rewards for keeping faith in Calvert-Lewin, who looks like he could turn everything he touches into goals at the moment.
