Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland have dominated the Premier League's goalscoring charts in recent years and the Liverpool legend has been tipped to best his rival's tally this season
Manchester City's Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (L) and Liverpool's Egyptian striker #11 Mohamed Salah (R) embrace
Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland have won four of the last five Premier League Golden Boot awards
(Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Erling Haaland has been told Mohamed Salah will score more goals this season because he's less reliant on chances being created for him. That's the verdict from ex-Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce, who believes the Liverpool great will top the Premier League goal charts for a second season running.
The 33-year-old captured his fourth Golden Boot overall last season after his 29-goal campaign that helped lead the Reds to the Premier League title in Arne Slot's first season in charge.
Only Thierry Henry has won as many Golden Boots as Salah. A fifth triumph this season would spell another record the Egyptian has broken in his illustrious tenure in Merseyside.
Salah's victory last season broke Haaland's two-year dominance of the award as the Norwegian, who still scored 22 goals in the league, missed almost a month of action due to an ankle injury.
Both players got off to a good start on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, with Salah netting Liverpool's last goal in their 4-2 home win over Bournemouth, while Haaland was one of four players to net a brace in the top flight as City romped to a 4-0 win away at Wolves.
Speaking to BestBettingSites, Pearce cited Salah's durability and his lack of reliance on team-mates creating for him as to why he thinks he'll pip Haaland this season. He argued: "I think Salah will once again [be] top-scorer. He plays all the games.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool acknowledges the fans after being presented with the Premier League Golden Boot Winner 2024/25 Award trophy and Premier League Playmaker Winner 2024/25 Award trophy
No player has won the Premier League Golden Boot more times than Salah (four)
"There doesn't seem to be any rotation with Mo Salah either. You see certain players get taken off, or maybe not start games that are not seen as critical games. Salah seems to start all the time. So I still feel as though Salah will be the top scorer.
"Haaland, he's going to be in the top two or three, there's no doubt about that. Like Salah, Haaland really plays all the games. Pep picks him all the time. But I just feel as though maybe he's beholden a little bit more to the supply line behind him, more so than Salah.
"I think Salah creates more for himself. That's why I put him at number one. Haaland will be number two or three in the goal scoring charts, no doubt about that. But I'm not sure he'll pip Salah."
Erling Haaland of Manchester City with the Golden Boot trophy during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Manchester City
Haaland triumphed in his first two seasons in England
Pearce even predicted further success for Salah, believing the Reds will retain the league title for the first time since 1984. "I think Liverpool will win it," the ex-England defender said.
"Liverpool have strengthened really well from winning the title. If [Alexander] Isak arrives, that will make them even stronger, so that could be a huge advantage to come. There’s also been talk about Marc Guehi coming to Anfield.
"So that would be two more outstanding Premier League players in the squad for the season to come. I think Chelsea will come second.
"I think the other two in with a shout are Manchester City and Arsenal. But it will be a great title race." After their opening victory against the Cherries, Slot's men face their first big test of the season when they travel to Newcastle on Monday night.