Five early contenders for the Premier League golden boot including a surprise outsider

The Premier League has returned in spectacular fashion with full stadiums able to witness top flight games in England for the first time in 18 months. 

There have already been over 100 goals scored in the opening four weeks of the season, and the fixtures on offer this weekend promise plenty more to come.

A number of stars have already got off the goalscoring mark in the season’s early weeks, however some of the big names are still waiting for their first goal of the new campaign.

Below, we list five players who could win the golden boot this season, from past winners to an underdog leading the way already.

Romelu Lukaku – 3 goals

The Belgian forward was one of a number of players making shock returns to former clubs this summer, and made an instant impact with a debut goal against Arsenal at the Emirates.

The former Inter Milan striker followed that goal up with his first ever goals at Stamford Bridge as he notched a brace against Aston Villa last week.

Lukaku has scored fthree league goals for Chelsea since returning to the club this summer

With Chelsea looking so impressive in the early weeks of the season and Lukaku spearheading the Blues’ attack, the former Manchester United striker looks almost certain to be amongst the top scorers this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo – 2 goals

Another player who made a sensational return to his former employers over the summer, Ronaldo has also made an immediate impact at Manchester United, scoring a brace on his second debut against Newcastle United.

The record international goalscorer followed that up with a goal in the Champions League in midweek, and will fancy his chances of adding to his league tally against West Ham United on Sunday.

Having won the Premier League golden boot award during the 2007/08 campaign, the Portuguese will be hungry to repeat his success and few would rule him out of the running after his impressive debut.

Mohamad Salah – 2 goals

The winner of two of the past four golden boot awards, Salah is another big name who looks certain to be in with a chance come May.

The Egyptian got off the mark for the season during the Reds’ opening weekend victory over Norwich City, and followed that up a fortnight later with a goal from the penalty spot against Chelsea.

Salah has already scored twice and will be chasing a third golden boot award

Having scored a record 32 goals during his first season with Liverpool, the forward is proven as a prolific Premier League goal scorer and will be in the hunt for the award once again.

Harry Kane – 0 goals

After missing the first two games of the season through injury and failed to score in the two matches since, Harry Kane is without a goal heading into the fifth game of the season.

Few would have predicted Kane to be goalless by mid-September, however it is only a matter of time before the England captain gets off the mark.

The winner of the golden boot award in 2016, 2017 and 2021, Kane is another certainty to be competing at the top of the goalscoring charts by the end of the season.

Kane has a superb record in London derbies, and with Spurs facing Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham in their next five games, few would bet against the Englishman scoring soon.

Michail Antonio – 4 goals

A surprise name at the top of the current standings, West Ham’s Michail Antonio has been in sensational form during the opening weeks of the new season.

The Hammers striker scored on the opening weekend against Newcastle and followed that up with a brace against Leicester, before another goal against Crystal Palace took his tally to four.

Antonio has scored four goals and registered three assists already this term

A slight issue for Antonio will be his imminent suspension, following a sending off against Southampton last time out.

Despite being an outsider for the award, Antonio’s importance to a West Ham side that have been superb in the early weeks may mean that he is in with a chance of scooping the accolade.

With such an abundance of attacking talent on display in the Premier League this season, the competition for the golden boot award may well be the most exciting to date.