Analytics favour Tottenham’s Kane in battle with Salah for Golden Boot
By Gary Pearson
Harry Kane and Mo Salah are deadlocked at 22 goals a piece heading into the final two matches, with the analytics slightly favouring the Tottenham ace in the race for the Golden Boot.
It’s not just my admitted bias that leans toward Kane nudging Salah out for one of the top flight’s most coveted individual honours. At a superficial glance, based on their remaining fixtures, it would be logical to favour Salah.
The Liverpool marksman faces two teams — Crystal Palace and Burnley — with absolutely nothing to play for. Both are safe from relegation and seen as relatively easy matches for Liverpool, who are perfectly positioned to snatch a top four spot at the death.
That added motivation alone will galvanize a hungry Salah, who has scored five goals in his last seven Premier League matches in search of his third Golden Boot. Salah, who scored a brace against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park earlier in the campaign, must be licking his lips at the prospect of feasting on them at Anfield on Sunday.
He was kept off the scoresheet against Burnley in Liverpool’s first test against Sean Dyche’s side. On the other hand, Kane has Aston Villa at home and Leicester away remaining. While Spurs were unable to score against Leicester earlier in the campaign, England’s captain bagged a goal at Villa in their first encounter.
Villa, like Palace and Burnley, have nothing to play for. Though the Midlands side is above both of Liverpool’s opponents in the standings. Leicester are enmeshed in a fight for their Champions League lives, representing a particularly difficult, sticky challenge for Tottenham on the last day of the season. Spurs are also fighting for a place in Europe and will be focussed on achieving that goal.
Kane is slightly better on the form table, scoring six in his last seven Premier League matches.
But based on the aforementioned factors, you’d have to say Salah is the favourite.