Feature

Race for Golden Boot set for thrilling finale

16 Apr 2024
Golden Boot after MW33

We look at the most prolific players in the Premier League as race at the top of goalscoring chart heats up

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Premier League Golden Boot award winners

With six players separated by only three goals, the race for the 2023/24 Castrol Golden Boot is one of the most hotly-contested in recent seasons.

After scoring FOUR times in Chelsea's 6-0 win over Everton on Monday, Cole Palmer has now moved level on 20 goals with Manchester City star Erling Haaland.

Top scorers' goal tally and fixtures
Player Goals Fixtures
Erling Haaland 20 BHA (A), NFO (A), WOL (H), FUL (A), TOT (A), WHU (H)
Cole Palmer 20 ARS (A), AVL (A), TOT (H), WHU (H), NFO (A), BHA (A), BOU (H)
Ollie Watkins 19 BOU (H), CHE (H), BHA (A), LIV (H), CRY (A)
Alexander Isak 17 CRY (A), SHU (H), BUR (A), BHA (H), MUN (A), BRE (A)
Mohamed Salah 17 FUL (A), EVE (A), WHU (A), TOT (H), AVL (A), WOL (H)
Dominic Solanke 17 AVL (A), WOL (A), BHA (H), ARS (A), BRE (H), CHE (A)

Ollie Watkins is hot on the pair's heels after netting in Aston Villa's impressive 2-0 victory at Arsenal on Sunday and has his sights set firmly on winning the award.

"We're all fighting for it," said Watkins after the match. "I've got my eyes on it. I want to score every game."

There is strong pedigree elsewhere in the rest of the chasing pack on 17 goals.

Three-time Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah is still in with a chance of adding a fourth prize, while Alexander Isak and Dominic Solanke are each enjoying their best ever goalscoring season in the competition.

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Here we analyse the contenders and the key statistics that have put them in the Golden Boot hunt.

Isak and Palmer best for minutes per goal

The Newcastle United striker and Chelsea attacker currently have the best strike ratio in the Premier League.

They have each netted at an average of 104 minutes per goal, placing them top for that statistic in the competition this season.

This puts them just ahead of the next-best player, Haaland, who has converted his 20 goals at an average of 109 minutes.

Minutes-per-goal ratio
Player Mins per goal
Cole Palmer, Alexander Isak 104
Erling Haaland 109
Mohamed Salah 126
Ollie Watkins 147
Dominic Solanke 168
Solanke's goals the most important 

When it comes to valuable goals, it is Solanke whose strikes have been the most important for his team.

The AFC Bournemouth striker's 17 goals have secured an extra 15 points for his side, putting him slightly ahead of the 14 points that Watkins' 19 goals have earned Villa.

Extra points earned
Player Most points earned
Dominic Solanke 15
Ollie Watkins 14
Cole Palmer 13
Mohamed Salah 11
Erling Haaland 10
Alexander Isak 5
Haaland missing the most big chances

While the Man City striker holds a joint-lead at the top of the goalscoring chart, his advantage could be considerably more had he been less wasteful.

Haaland may have struck 20 times in the Premier League, but the Norwegian has spurned 30 big chances, 11 more than the next-nearest player, Solanke.

Most big chances missed
Player Big chances missed
Erling Haaland 30
Dominic Solanke 19
Alexander Isak 15
Mohamed Salah 13
Ollie Watkins 12
Cole Palmer 4
Erling Haaland, MCI
Watkins the unluckiest? 

One player who can consider himself unlucky in the race for the Golden Boot is Watkins.

If his five shots had not hit the woodwork and instead gone in, he would be the Premier League's highest scorer with 24 goals.

Hitting the woodwork the most times
Player Times woodwork hit
Ollie Watkins 5
Dominic Solanke 3
Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah 2
Alexander Isak 1
Cole Palmer 0
Isak and Palmer the most clinical

While he may not have the most goals, Isak is the most clinical finisher.

The Swede's shot conversion rate is an impressive 28.33 per cent, with Palmer not too far behind on 24.4 per cent.

Best conversion rate
Player  Played Goals Mins/ goal Shots (on target) % Conv. rate 
Isak 24 17 104 60 (33) 28.3%
Palmer 28 20 104 82 (40) 24.4%
Watkins 32 19 147 95 (43) 20.0%
Haaland 26 20 109 102 (48) 19.6%
Salah 26 17 126 93 (45) 18.3%
Solanke 32 17 168 94 (33) 18.1%

*Including shots blocked

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