This season’s Premier League Golden Boot race has an unfamiliar feel about it. Luis Suarez, last season’s winner with 31 goals in 33 games (highest ever ratio of 0.94 goals per game), is now plying his trade in La Liga.
While Robin Van Persie, who won the prior two editions of the Golden Boot, has been out injured for lengthy spells and is seven goals behind pacesetter’s Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero. So we are certain to have a new winner, but who are the contenders to end the season at the top of the scoring charts as they look to boost their team’s chances in the Premier League markets?
Diego Costa – 17 goals in 21 games
The 26 year-old Chelsea striker started the season like a scalded cat with seven goals in his opening four Premier League matches. The Spaniard, who netted 27 goals in 35 games for Atletico Madrid last season, is second favourite at around 6/4 to land the Golden Boot but his recent form should be a concern.
Chelsea’s fixture congestion and Mourinho’s reluctance to rotate his squad has meant Costa plays virtually every game. And his recent Premier League form has suffered – Costas last Premier League goal – prior to Sunday’s strike against Southampton – was back in January in a 5-0 win at Swansea.
Nevertheless, Chelsea have just the Premier League to focus on and their remaining fixtures are favourable, so there is plenty of scope for Costa to get back in the groove.
While he won’t win any popularity contests, the Spaniard has every chance of taking the Premier League Golden Boot alongside the league title.
Sergio Aguero – 17 goals in 23 games
Despite playing three full seasons in the Premier League, Sergio Ageuro has never won the Golden Boot but he has a real chance to buck that trend this season after netting 17 goals in 23 appearances.
Chelsea have pulled away from City in the title race but Costa and Aguero are neck and neck in the scoring charts. It really does feel like a coin toss between these two world-class strikers.
Aguero has the advantage of taking penalties for City and is no stranger to bagging three or four goals in a single match. But his injury record is poor and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him miss a few more games before the end of the season.
Harry Kane – 16 goals in 24 games
Harry Kane is hot on the heels of the leading duo and is the form striker in England with eight league goals in his last six games. The Spurs front man was also named the Premier League player of the month for the second month running as he continues his upward trajectory.
The 21 year-old has shot to prominence this season, surprising even the most ardent Spurs fans. Kane appears to have it all, pace, power and unerring accuracy and he would be a popular Golden Boot winner with the neutrals.
Like Chelsea, Spurs’ remaining fixtures look decent with just the two Manchester clubs looking their sternest tests. Providing Kane stays injury free, he has an excellent chance of overhauling Costa and Aguero.
Charlie Austin – 15 goals in 25 games
The QPR striker is a goal machine and has scored 15+ goals for the fourth consecutive year (previous three seasons were in The Championship). It’s rare to see a player fighting relegation at the head of the scoring charts but Austin has continued to find the back of the net; even if it’s just a consolation goal.
The bookies rate him as a 28/1 outsider despite being just two off the pace. Nevertheless, it would take a monumental effort to outscore the players ahead of him.
Alexis Sanchez – 13 goals in 25 games
Finally, Arsenal are represented with their summer signing Alexis Sanchez. The opening weeks of the season saw the diminutive Chilean bag a hatful of goals as he hit the ground running in an Arsenal shirt.
But as the season has worn on, Sanchez appears to be running out of steam. Just one Premier League strike in his last five games illustrates the dip in form, although this can be contributed to his positional switch to the wing where he has become a peripheral figure.
But a few quick goals in the next week or two would put him back amongst the leading pack
