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With LiveScoreBet offering customers who place a £10 bet on the top goalscorer market a £2 free bet for every shot on target their selection gets on the opening weekend, here is a look at the leading contenders — and who they face in their season openers.
The 2022-23 Premier League season is edging ever closer and there are plenty of world-class contenders to end the campaign as the division’s leading scorer.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Heung-Min Son of Tottenham shared the Golden Boot last season, notching 23 goals apiece.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Spurs’ Harry Kane are among the other former winners of the accolade expected to challenge again this term.
There are also new contenders for the award, with Manchester City star Erling Haaland and Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez set to embark on their first season in English football.
Haaland will take some stopping
He may have yet to kick a ball in the Premier League but it is hard to look beyond Haaland topping the scoring charts this season.
The 22-year-old netted a staggering 86 goals in 89 appearances for previous club Borussia Dortmund and it took him just 12 minutes to get off the mark in a City shirt as he notched in their recent pre-season victory over Bayern Munich.
Born in Leeds and standing at 6ft 5in, Haaland should have no problem adapting to the rigours of English football and he is sure to get plenty of chances.
City have been the division’s leading scorers in each of the last five seasons, which includes netting 99 last term despite not having a recognised centre forward in their squad.
Haaland will be that recognised frontman and all the signs point to him hiting 20-plus goals at least in the league this season.
City will hope he hits the ground running as they face a tricky trip to West Ham on the opening day, having failed to win any of their last three matches at the London Stadium.
Kane eyes fourth Golden Boot
After a slow start to last season, Kane ended the campaign with 17 strikes to his name, his joint-lowest total in the Premier League since 2014.
He scored six fewer than team-mate Son and will be keen to return to the top of the charts this year as he eyes a record-equalling fourth Premier League Golden Boot.
The England captain should not be short of service with Son and Dejan Kulusevski, as well as new signings Ivan Perisic and Richarlison, set to work alongside him in the final third.
Spurs are also being tipped for a strong season under Antonio Conte and if they are to challenge the likes of City and Liverpool at the top of the standings, Kane will surely have to be among the goals.
Kane’s hopes of a faster start this season are helped by Tottenham’s opening-day opponents.
He has been involved in 17 goals in 13 Premier League starts against Southampton (11 goals, six assists), although he was kept quiet in last term’s home fixture as the Saints earned a surprise 3-2 win.
Jesus to light up the Emirates
Gabriel Jesus has swapped Manchester City for Arsenal this summer and although he may not necessarily play as an out-and-out centre forward at the Emirates Stadium, he should get regular game time.
The 25-year-old only twice reached double figures for Premier League goals during six seasons with City, but he was largely limited to a support role in Manchester, whereas he could be the leading man at Arsenal.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will be hoping Jesus can score the goals that can fire Arsenal to a top-four finish and he looks a lively outside choice to top the charts.
The North Londoners will have the added motivation of missing out to Spurs in the race for the Champions League last season and will be desperate to improve on their 3-0 hammering at Crystal Palace when they travel to Selhurst Park on the opening weekend.
Another potential outside option could be Newcastle striker Callum Wilson, with the Magpies expected to be challenging much higher up the standings following a strong end to last season.
Wilson is a proven scorer at Premier League level and with Toon chiefs yet to sign another striker this summer, he could be relied on heavily to score the goals — provided he can stay fit.
He will be hopeful of getting a few shots off on the opening day as Newcastle host newly-promoted Nottingham Forest. Eddie Howe’s men have won five of their last six on home turf.
It is hard to ignore the claims of Salah — and with Liverpool facing Fulham to kick off their season, there is every chance the Egyptian gets plenty of shots on target.
And team-mate Nunez will be hopeful of getting off to a quick start after netting four times in a pre-season clash with RB Leipzig.
