Premier League top scorers 2021-22: Ronaldo, Lukaku & the race for the Golden Boot

An unlikely candidate for Premier League top scorer, Michael Antonio scored double figures in the last two seasons and the West Ham striker hit the ground running in 2021-22. David Moyes and the Hammers faithful will be hopeful he can continue that habit until the end of the season.

Two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah finished second in the race last term and in 2021-22 he is targeting his third individual prize as he attempts to fire Liverpool to the title. Over the course of the past four campaigns, Salah has averaged just under 24 Premier League goals a season and will be hoping to surpass that this year.

Despite advancing into his mid-thirties, Jamie Vardy has shown few signs of slowing down on the goals front and he continues to lead the Leicester City line. By now a legendary player for the Foxes, Vardy will be expected to chip in with strikes throughout the campaign for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Bruno Fernandes came third in the 2020-21 Premier League top scorers list with 18 goals and the playmaker continues to star for Manchester United. Some may have feared the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo would impact Fernandes’ goal prospects, but the Portugal compatriots have dovetailed nicely.

Ismaila Sarr has long been targeted by some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs and the Watford winger is demonstrating just why he is such a coveted player after an impressive start to the season.

Brighton striker Neal Maupay cracked double figures on the goal charts in his first season in the Premier League, but fell short with just eight goals last season. With Graham Potter’s style bedding in at the Amex Stadium, the French forward will be confident of surpassing 10 goals in 2021-22.

Cristiano Ronaldo finished last season as the top scorer in Serie A with 29 goals in 33 appearances and dispelled any doubts that he might slow down on his return to Old Trafford with two goals in his first game back. The Manchester United faithful will be hopeful that the Portugal phenomenon can help fire them on their way to a Premier League title charge.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has taken his game up a notch in recent seasons, improving his goalscoring ability in the process. The England international remains the Toffees’ chief goal threat under Rafa Benitez and will be aiming to improve on his tally of 16 goals from last term.

Leeds United’s Brazilian star Raphinha was involved in 15 Premier League goals last term (six goals, nine assists) and, in 2021-22, he has picked up where he left off.

Having returned to England from a brief stint in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, Demarai Gray has found a new lease of life with Everton. The winger has chipped in with a few goals to take the pressure off Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once described Mason Greenwood as “the best finisher” he had worked with and the Manchester United forward looks ready to kick on in 2021-22. With the attacking riches at Solskjaer’s disposal, however, the England international could well find his minutes limited.

Romelu Lukaku has made a triumphant return to Chelsea after a goal-laden spell in Serie A with Inter, where he won a Scudetto. The Belgium striker previously scored goals in the Premier League for Everton and Manchester United, but took his game up a level at San Siro, hitting 24 league goals last season and 23 the year before that.

Liverpool winger Sadio Mane shared the Golden Boot award with team-mate Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2018-19, but his goal return has suffered in recent campaigns. The Senegal star laid down a marker of intent at the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign though.

Algeria international Said Benrahma had an impressive scoring rate during his time with Brentford and has rediscovered that capability for West Ham this season.

Andros Townsend‘s wicked left foot is still proving decisive in England’s top flight as he looks to make a big impact at Everton this season.

The South Korea international joined Wolves on a loan deal from RB Leipzig before the close of the transfer window. The striker has been quick to make an impact and scored twice in a victory over Newcastle.

Diogo Jota made an instant impact at Liverpool when he joined the Reds from Wolves in 2020-21 and he has offered a different type of goal threat to Roberto Firmino. The Portugal international will feel he can contribute even more this campaign after seeing his maiden season curtailed by injury.

Heung-min Son enjoyed his best ever season from a goals perspective with Tottenham last term, scoring 17 goals in 37 Premier League appearances. The forward has scored double figures in each of the last five campaigns and could be a good bet to challenge for the Golden Boot as he aims to pick up the slack from Harry Kane.