Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son have been impressive, not unprecedented for Tottenham

Harry Kane is currently leading the Premier League race for the Golden Boot. With 21 goals, Kane is two in front of Mohammed Salah who sits on 19. Heung-Min Son just scored his 15th goal on Wednesday against Southampton, setting a new personal best for goals in a league season. With 36 goals between the two of them, the Tottenham duo are the runaway top-scoring pair in the Premier League this season nine ahead of Salah and Mane who sit on 27. As prolific as the two have been, it is nowhere near the best we have seen.

Best Totals Ever in the Premier League

When you start to look at the most goals scored by a duo in a single season, suddenly the 36 goals – 41 projected – are not that high. In fact, if Kane and Son break the 40 goal barrier together, it will be the 13th time it has happened in the Premier League era and actually the second time the two have done it.

Back in 2017/18, Harry Kane had 30 goals, and Son had 12, for 42 total. Unfortunately for Tottenham Mo Salah (32) and Roberto Firmino (15) had a handful more. Even that 45 by Salah and Firmino is not that much compared to the all-time best.

In just the second season of the Premier League Andy Cole (34) and Peter Beardsley (21) combined for an incredible 55 goals for Newcastle United, a record that still stands. Back in 2013/14 Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge gave Cole and Beardsley a good run.

That season Suarez finished with 31 goals and Sturridge added a further 22 for an amazing 53 goals, the second most event. The 51 goals in 2009/10 from Didier Drogba (29) and Frank Lampard (22) represent the only other teammates to combine for at least 50 goals in a season.

Take nothing away from Son and Kane

The highest total ever for Kane and Son is the 42 they scored in 2017/18 but that is not the most in Tottenham history. Back in 2016/17, Harry Kane was on fire with 20 goals and a young attacking midfielder named Dele Alli had 18 goals for a combined 47, the highest in Spurs history from two players in one season. That 47 is tied with Salah and Firmino for the 5th highest total from a duo in a season.

Although whatever total Son and Kane reach this season is likely to be dwarfed by that 47 goal season in 2016/17, you can take nothing away from Son and Kane this year. Goal scoring is down across the league as evidenced by the fact Kane is the only player at 20 goals. In 2018/19 the last season before the pandemic, three players had 22.

Tottenham takeaway

It has been a good season just not unprecedented for Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son. Ultimately, to get to where we want the Spurs to go, we need other players to step up and help carry the load. This can be on either end of the pitch but it needs to happen. As good and as great as Son and Kane are, they cannot do it all.