While there’s a thrilling Premier League title race going on right now, as Arlo White loves to tell us, we can’t forget there’s also an incredible Golden Boot race shaping up.
Heading into the weekend, Mohamed Salah, Sergio Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were tied with 19 goals apiece, with Sadio Mané a goal back at 18. A few others remained in striking distance, such as Raheem Sterling (17), Eden Hazard (16) and Jamie Vardy (16), all capable of going off in the final three matches.
The Premier League’s version of Friday night football turned into a mini Golden Boot race, with Liverpool’s Salah and Mané trading goals in a thrilling 5-0 rout of hapless, relegated Huddersfield.
After the dust settled, Salah led the Golden Boot race with 21 goals, one ahead of Mané as both scored a brace.
Liverpool vs Huddersfield Highlights
It didn’t take long for Liverpool to assert its dominance over a club with nothing to play for — a mere 15 seconds to be exact.
Early pressure from Naby Keita paid off with the Guinean scoring Liverpool’s fastest Premier League goal ever.
THAT. WAS. FAST.
Naby Keïta opens the scoring just seconds into this one!Watch it on @NBCSN or stream here: https://t.co/sAiVvJd4zY pic.twitter.com/iF2ZPIC9dg
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 26, 2019
Then the Golden Boot race heated up.
In the 23rd minute, Mané pulled level with Salah, Aguero and Aubameyang with a strong header (off a dime from Andrew Robertson).
Sadio Mane strikes!
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 26, 2019
But Mané wouldn’t make it into the halftime locker room tied for the Golden Boot lead.
Salah made it 3-0 right before the halftime whistle with a deft chip past onrushing goalie Jonas Lössl.
That
man— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 26, 2019
The goal put Salah alone atop the scorer’s chart with 20.
For a little while.
Mané, unfazed, started the second-half scoring 21 minutes after the break with another header, this a bit tougher off the cross from Jordan Henderson.
Mané and Salah became the first teammates to score 20 Premier League goals in the same season since Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in 2013-14.
But Salah wasn’t done either — and not satisfied sharing the Golden Boot lead with his teammate.
In the 83rd minute, the Egyptian recaptured the Golden Boot lead when Xherdan Shaqiri unlocked the Huddersfield defense and Robertson played another inch-perfect cross for Salah to slot home.
So as it stands, after the Anfield bloodbath, the Premier League Golden Boot stands as follows:
1. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool — 21
2. Sadio Mané, Liverpool — 20
3. Sergio Aguero, Manchester City — 19
3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal — 19
5. Harry Kane, Tottenham — 17
5. Raheem Sterling, Manchester City — 17
Despite all the goals, the best moment of the day had to be the return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Liverpool midfielder returned to the pitch for the first time in just over a year after suffering an ACL injury.
What a moment at Anfield.
For the first time in more than a year, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back on the pitch for Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/qiFUrfmuwk— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 26, 2019
England’s AOC nearly scored moments after coming onto the pitch after being played in by Salah, nearly capping what was just about a perfect night for Liverpool as the Reds returned to the top of the Premier League table.
At least until Manchester City plays on Sunday.
Your move, @ManCity...#LIVHUD pic.twitter.com/d7YdmPYF1H
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 26, 2019
The18 Recommends For You
