Sport
5 outsiders to win the Premier League Golden Boot 2020
With most Premier League teams having played eight games, the race for the Golden Boot is starting to heat up. Jamie Vardy took the prize last season after hitting 23 goals for Leicester City and the striker is likely to be in the running again this time out, even though he turns 34 in January. Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane are both looking to claim the third Premier League Golden Boot of their careers so far, but which outsiders could be in the frame to be at the top of the pile at the end of the 2020 season? We have picked some of the more surprising contenders for this season’s top scorer prize.
Premier League Golden Boot 2020 Outsiders
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Having started the season on fire, Dominic Calvert-Lewin initially topped the scoring charts and forced his way into the England squad Calvert-Lewin scored his first goal for the Three Lions in a 3-0 friendly win over Wales and he looks a solid bet to be selected by Gareth Southgate for next year’s European Championship.
But Everton’s form has dipped and, while Calvert-Lewin has scored two goals in his last four club games, he has been affected by the Toffees’ recent downturn. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have lost three straight Premier League games – a run coinciding with Richarlison’s suspension – and they need to find some solutions over the international break.
Calvert-Lewin will still get plenty of chances but his place at the top of the scoring charts could come under threat in the coming weeks unless Everton improve quickly.
Son Heung-min
Also with eight goals so far – the same as Vardy, Calvert-Lewin and Salah – is Son Heung-min.
The South Korean is in the form of his life and well on track for the most prolific season of his career. Son has never scored more than 14 league goals in a season but should be aiming for at least 20 this time.
Son’s combination with Kane is special and he has scored the opening goal in three games so far, helping to prompt talk that Jose Mourinho’s Spurs could be title contenders this year.
The four goals Son scored against Southampton was an early highlight of the new campaign but he has gone without a goal in his last four appearances in all competitions. You’d suspect that, in the long haul, Harry Kane is the likelier contender for Premier League Golden Boot glory but if Son continues his current form, who knows?
Patrick Bamford
Few people would have expected Patrick Bamford to be in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot but the striker has hit seven Premier League goals in an attack-friendly Leeds United side to get the 2020 season off to a flyer.
Bamford came in for criticism last season when he only managed 16 Championship goals in 45 appearances, while Leeds’ signing of Spain striker Rodrigo seemed like bad news for him. However, Bamford has shot out of the blocks this season with his treble in an eye-catching 3-0 win away to Aston Villa resulting in the inevitable ‘hat-trick Bamford’ headlines.
It is also notable that none of Bamford’s goals so far in the Premier League this season have come from the penalty spot. In contrast, Salah has scored four times from the sport with Vardy netting five of his eight strikes from 12 yards.
Leeds are only a couple of places above the relegation zone despite lots of positive press and they will be hoping Bamford can continue his surprisingly strong start to the campaign.
Ollie Watkins
Some eyebrows were raised when Villa elected to pay a fee of up to £33 million in order to sign Ollie Watkins from Brentford but he has paid off a big chunk of that outlay already.
Watkins has slotted in seamlessly into a Villa side that have been hugely impressive, with a 3-0 win at Arsenal launching them into the top six going into the international break.
A hat-trick against champions Liverpool showed Watkins’ pace and finishing ability and two more goals against the Gunners highlighted his knack for delivering against the top sides.
Watkins and Bamford may both be hoping that they can attract the attention of Southgate and earn international recognition by continuing to score regularly this term. Watkins has also scored two League Cup goals to go along with his six in the Premier League since joining Villa.
Callum Wilson
Another player to have impressed at a new club this season is Callum Wilson, who has matched Watkins’ tally of six Premier League goals after signing for Newcastle United.
Wilson has hit doubles in wins against Burnley and Everton to help the Magpies to sit in a comfortable mid-table position at this early stage of the campaign.
The 28-year-old only scored eight times in the Premier League as Bournemouth were relegated last season but should be looking to double that record this time. However, Newcastle are waiting on news on a hamstring injury collected by Wilson in their defeat to Southampton. His hopes of winning the 2020 Premier League Golden Boot could hang on whether Newcastle’s form doesn’t drastically dip.
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