Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Tom Kershaw

Who is Premier League top scorer? Golden Boot shared between Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as Sergio Aguero misses out

On the day where Manchester City clinched the Premier League title, the shares were spoiled in the race for the Golden Boot between Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Aubameyang and Mane's final day double brought them level with last year's winner Salah on 22 goals, while Sergio Aguero finished just one back on 21.

Mane gave Liverpool the lead in their final day clash against Wolves, scoring in the 17th minute, while Aguero responded to City going down against Brighton to equalise just 83 seconds later.

Aubameyang then broke the deadlock after a gruelling first half at Turf Moor before adding his second to put Arsenal in control. Mane then scored his second to confirm Liverpool's victory.

Salah finished with the highest tally of assists - 8- but, unlike at the World Cup, if two players are tied on goals, the award is shared rather than determined by other factors.

Mohamed Salah (22 goals, 8 assists, 144 minutes per goal)

After a start to the season that fired in fits and spurts, scoring 7 goals in his first 15 games, a hat-trick against Bournemouth sparked Salah back into spectacular form.

A run of nine goals and three assists in eight games propelled Salah back to the top of the goalscoring rankings while Liverpool took charge of the title race. 

However, another spell of misfiring in front of the posts saw Salah score just one in nine games midway through the latter half of the season before re-enlivening his side with a brilliant long-range winner against Chelsea.

Salah is on the verge of securing back-to-back Golden Boots (Reuters)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (22 goals, 5 assists, 132 minutes per goal)

A rare clinical presence for Arsenal this season, Aubameyang has consistently provided the goal threat for Unai Emery’s side, despite their see-sawing form. 

During the 14-game unbeaten streak in the league, the Gabonese talisman scored 10 goals and developed a brilliant understanding with Alexandre Lacazette.

As Arsenal wrestled with their form, and defence, Aubameyang couldn’t single-handedly haul his side over the line, but continued to score, evening in defeat to Crystal Palace and draw at Brighton.

Pierre-EmerickAubameyang celebrates scoring (Reuters)

Sadio Mane (22 goals, 1 assist, 150 minutes per goal)

Would need to score a hat-trick to have any hope of clinching the golden boot, but has consistently stepped up for Liverpool during the latter half of the season and taken on more responsibility in Jurgen Klopp’s side.

After scoring five goals in the first four games, Mane only scored twice in the next 10 games, despite the Reds continued success.

But in the second half of the season, Mane came into a fantastic series of form, scoring nine goals in nine games and rightfully winning a spot in the Premier League team of the season. 

Aguero trails Mohamed by two goals in the race for the Golden Boot going into the final game of the league season (Getty)

Sergio Aguero (21 goals, 8 assists, 119 minutes per goal)

After the Argentinian’s goalscoring streak was stunted by a knee injury at the end of the last season, Ageruo fizzed into life at the beginning of the campaign, scoring a hat-trick in City’s second game and quickly re-establishing his rule over Gabriel Jesus.

Boasting the best goal-to-minute ratio of any of the top golden boot candidates, Aguero scored eight in his first 13 games, despite only playing the full 90 minutes just three times.

And after returning from a short spell on the sidelines with a groin injury, two more hat-tricks followed at Arsenal and Chelsea. But a lull over the past eight games, scoring just twice, may ultimately cost him the accolade.

 

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.