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The Premier League Golden Boot is an award of excellence in English Football. It is awarded to the highest goalscorer of the season in the Premier League. The winner gets a trophy and around £1000 for every goal scored to donate to a charity of their choice. Since the foundation of the Premier League, some of the biggest talents of the World have won the award. The first Premier League Golden Boot was awarded to Teddy Sheringham, who scored 22 goals in 41 games for Tottenham Hotspurs in the 1992/93 season.
Thiery Henry has the record of winning the most Premier League Golden Boots – 4 times during his time at Arsenal. Legendary Newcastle Striker and Premier League’s record goalscorer Alan Shearer won it 3 times. Among the current strikers, only Tottenham’s Harry Kane has won it more than once. Last Season, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool won the Premier League Golden Boot with a breakthrough season that saw him score 32 goals in 36 games. This season, however, Salah has scored 3 times in his 7 games in the Premier League, and narrowly misses out from this list for the month of October. Let's hope he regains his goalscoring form and returns to this list next month.
The race for the Golden Boot has already lit up the Premier League so far and as such, we are here with the top ten front runners for the Award at the start of the month of October. There are a few new names, as there are absentees, but it will be interesting to see how the rankings unfold as the season progresses.
#10 Richarlison (Brazil, Everton)
Goals Scored: 3
The Brazilian started the new Premier League Season with a bang, scoring a brace in his first game for Everton against Wolves. He followed that up with another goal in his very next match against Southampton. However, his third game was disastrous, as he was shown a straight red against Bournemouth. Richarlison was suspended for two games and returned to play in the defeat against Arsenal and the win over Fulham, however, the Brazilian is yet to find the back of the goal since the Wolves game and has not scored in his last 3 games now.
Richarlison has registered 14 shots so far and 6 of those have been on target. His goals per game ratio currently stand at 0.60. Apart from the Premier League, the Brazilian also has one appearance this season in the Carabao Cup, where he played for 30 minutes, but could not find the back of the net either. The statistics put him at number 10 in the power rankings and Richarlison and Everton will be hoping that he returns to his goalscoring form pretty soon.
#9 Glenn Murray (England, Brighton & Hove Albion)
Goals Scored: 4
Glenn Murray is an immensely important figure at Brighton and is an essential part of their tactics as they aim to secure a prolonged stay at the Premier league. His goals would be vital for that reason alone and quite deservedly, he started his run this season with a goal that stunned Manchester United. His next two goals were vital in earning a valuable point, in the game at home against Fulham, where they were 2-0 down until the 66th minute. In the very next game against Southampton, he equalized in the 90th minute to earn them a vital away point. Murray did draw a blank against Spurs and played only 17 minutes in the game against City, without scoring.
This season, Murray has registered 9 shot, with 5 of them on target. Interestingly, all of his goals were scored with his right boot. He has a modest goals per game ratio of 0.57, which puts him 9th in this list.
Murray ended last season with 12 goals from 35 games and with a good head start already this year, the Englishman will be hoping to improve his returns this time. While he is not the bookie’s favourite to win the Golden Boot, each of his goals will be precious for Brighton as they fight for a place in the league.
#8 Sadio Mane (Senegal, Liverpool)
Goals Scored: 4
Sadio Mane started the new season on hot form, scoring a brace in his first game, as a part of Liverpool’s 4-0 demolition of West Ham. He scored in his very next game against Crystal Palace and then drew a blank against Brighton. However, he opened the scoring against Leicester in the game after and that was the last time he scored in the Premier League. The Senegalese has not scored in his last 3 games in the Premier League and in his last 5 games in all competitions, but Mane should not be too worried.
Last season, Mane finished with 10 goals from 29 games and he already looks set to better that record this year. He has registered 19 shots so far, with 11 of them on target. His goals to game ratio is a modest 0.57. The Senegalese has also hit the woodwork once already.
Even with the advent of new players at Anfield, Mane remains an important part of Klopp’s tactics and the German manager will be hoping that his star man will hit at least double figures in goals again.
#7 Romelu Lukaku (Belgium, Manchester United)
Goals Scored: 4
Romelu Lukaku started his first league game from the bench and played just 23 minutes without scoring. Subsequently, he has played every minute of every game for United this season. His first goal came in the defeat to Brighton in United’s second game of the season. After enduring a disappointing night at Old Trafford against Spurs, he returned to his goal scoring form against Burnley, scoring both goals in the win. He scored again in the victory against Watford in the very next game. Since then, Lukaku has not found the back of the net in the last two games in the Premier League and 5 games in all competitions. It is a bit of a headache both for him and his manager, as United are currently 10th in the league.
Last season, Lukaku scored 16 goals from 34 appearances in the Premier League. It is a modest return for a player who has cost a lot of money and the Belgian has hit better in the colours of Everton in the Premier League previously. He will be setting up a big target this season and Manchester United will need his goals to have a successful season.
The Belgian has already registered 18 shots this season, with 9 of them on target. He has also hit the woodwork once. Unfortunately, he has also missed 4 big chances. His goals to game return is also a moderate 0.57. Lukaku needs to improve if he harvests any hopes of getting his hands on the Golden Boot for the first time in his career.
#6 Raheem Sterling (England, Manchester City)
Goals Scored: 4
Raheem Sterling scored his first goal of the season against Arsenal in his very first game of the 2018/19 season. He could not find the back of the net in the draw against Wolves, but scored a goal each in the next 2 games against Newcastle and Fulham. His drew a brief blank against Cardiff, but resumed his scoring form last weekend, against Brighton. Sterling has also been involved in the Champions League and the Carabao Cup this season, however, he has not found the scored in any of the three games he played in those 2 tournaments.
The Englishman has registered 18 shots this season and 10 of those have been on target. His goals per game ratio is 0.67. He has already hit the woodwork twice this season and also has missed one big chance so far. His overall game has been impressive as always, he has also registered 2 assists and averages 45.83 passes per game in the League. Last Season, Sterling scored 18 goals from 33 appearances and the Englishman will be looking to improve that record this year.
#5 Marko Arnautovic (Austria, West Ham United)
Goals Scored: 4
The Austrian ended last season with 11 goals from 31 games, however, this season, Arnautovic seems revitalized and ready for a big one. He started the season with a horrible defeat at the hands of Liverpool, but since then, Arnautavic has been in good form. He scored his first goal of the season in the defeat against Bournemouth. He also scored West Ham’s only goal in the defeat to Arsenal in the next game. He could not find the back of the net in the game against Wolves as West Ham succumbed to a narrow 1-0 defeat. However, he made amends in the exuberant win against Everton, scoring his third goal as his club registered their first win of the season. The big one was just around the block though. It was his efficiently taken goal that took the game away from Manchester United last weekend and earned West Ham a memorable win.
Arnautovic has registered 16 shots this season so far and 7 of those have been on target. His goals per game ratio is 0.67 and due to his recent form, he is ranked in the 5th position in this list.
#4 Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia, Fulham)
Goals Scored: 5
The Serbian finds himself among the big names in the league, but it is only because he deserves his place at Number 4. Mitrovic has started every game for Fulham in the Premier League this season and got his first goal in the Cottagers’ second game, scoring the only goal in a 3-1 defeat to Spurs. He scored a brace against Burnley in the next game, earning Fulham a memorable win. Against Brighton, he scored to make it 4 goals in his first 4 games. He failed to score in the game against Man City, but scored the equalizer against Watford. Last weekend, he missed out from the score sheet against Everton, a game Fulham lost 3-0.
Last season, the Serbian was vital in Fulham’s quest for promotion from the Championship, scoring 12 goals from 17 games. This season, he has already registered a whopping 31 shots, with 12 of them on target. He has also hit the woodwork 3 times and missed 2 big chances. Mitrovic has an impressive goals per game ratio of 0.71 and the Serbian will be hoping to at least surpass his returns from last season. Indeed, Fulham will be resting their hopes on their fantastic Serbian striker, and he will be indispensable in their fight for survival.
#3 Harry Kane (England, Tottenham)
Goals Scored: 5
Harry Kane would have certainly completed his hattrick of Golden Boots last season, had the phenomenal Mohamed Salah not surpassed him. It was a brutal lesson for the English Striker who had hit a personal best 30 goals from 37 games last season. When he had won the award in 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons, he had scored 25 goals and 29 goals respectively. Kane was disappointed, but as an immediate improvement, has started early this season.
He has already scored 5 in his 7 games in the Premier League, which includes goals against Fulham, Manchester United, Brighton and a brace against Huddersfield on the weekend. He has registered 20 shots, with 11 of them on target and has hit the woodwork once. His goals per game ratio is also an impressive 0.71. However, he has already missed 5 big chances and he will be hoping he does not end up regretting those misses come the end of the season. Kane has also picked up two assists and he is 3rd in the Premier League Golden Boot Power rankings for October.
Kane scored another goal in the midweek defeat to Barcelona and now has 4 goals in his last 3 games in all competitions. He will be hoping to maintain the momentum till the end of the season, because the fight for the prize looks a lot harder this season.
#2 Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City)
Goals Scored: 5
The skilled Argentinean has the most goals in the Premier League among the current crop of strikers – 148 goals from 213 appearances, yet has won the Golden Boot only once, back in the 2014/15 season. Last season, Aguero finished with 21 goals from 25 appearances and was out of the race before the end of the season. This season though, the Argentinean looks inspired and determined so far. He has successfully managed to relegate Gabriel Jesus, who was bought to replace him, to the bench and by the looks of things, his relationship with his manager has also improved.
Sergio Aguero already has 8 goals from 10 games in all competitions this season, including 5 in the Premier League. He started off the season with a hattrick in his second game, against Huddersfield and then went 3 games without a goal. However, he resumed normal business with a goal against Cardiff and also scored last weekend against Brighton. He has started all the games this season, but has completed only 2 of them.
Aguero has already registered a mammoth 38 shots this season so far, with 11 of those on target. He also has an impressive 0.71 goals per game. The Argentinean has hit the woodwork thrice and has missed just 1 big chance. He also has 2 assists to his name. Aguero certainly looks like he is desperate to get his hands on the Premier League Golden Boot again, but needs to be consistent till the end to make it happen.
#1 Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea)
Goals Scored: 6
After initial worries about how he would fit into Sarri’s system, Eden Hazard has come out with flying colours. The Italian manager seems to have found the perfect way to get the best out of his brilliant Belgian and the results are there for all to see. Eden Hazard has scored 7 goals in 8 games in all competitions so far for Chelsea, including 6 goals in 7 games in the Premier League.
He started the season slow, unable to score in the games against Huddersfield and Arsenal, even though he picked up an assist in both games. He scored his first goal against Newcastle and then followed it up with another against Bournemouth. Against Cardiff, he put on a 5 star performance, scoring a hattrick. He missed out against West Ham, but last weekend, scored against Liverpool, against whom he had already scored in the Carabao Cup.
Hazard already has attempted 18 shots, with 9 of them on target, however, he has also missed 2 big chances. Even though his goal scoring is a bonus, Hazard also contributes in build up, creating chances for his team mates and has already created 3 big chances so far. Last season, Hazard managed only 12 goals from 34 games, and the Belgian will be desperate to improve those stats. It is about time that he justifies his immense talent and establishes himself in the league of Messi and Ronaldo. Hazard definitely has the talent to be the best in the world and compete for the Balon D’Or and FIFA’s Best Awards, and the first step to that could be winning the Premier League Golden Boot. At the start of October, Eden Hazard is the Number 1 contender for the award.
