It has been a decade now since a player at an English club surpassed the magic 40-goal mark in all competitions in a season.
That was Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2007-08, his 42 goals in 49 matches propelling Sir Alex Ferguson’s team to glory both in the Premier League and the Champions League.
As well as finishing as the Premier League leading goalscorer with 31, the Portuguese star also contributed eight goals in the Champions League and three in the FA Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo – then of Manchester United – reached 42 goals in all competitions during the 2007-08 season. He is the last player from an English side to exceed 40 goals in a season
Ronaldo’s United ended the 2007-08 season as Premier League and European champions
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates with Ronaldo after their Champions League win
This season, we find ourselves with three players who could potentially make it to the 40-goal mark.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane looks the most likely. He is already on 35 goals for this season, including 24 in the Premier League, four in the FA Cup and seven in the Champions League.
Given that Spurs remain in the FA Cup, where they travel to Swansea City in the sixth round, and the Champions League, where their last-16 tie with Juventus is nicely-poised, Kane has every chance.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane already has 35 goals in all competitions this season
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, enjoying an outstanding debut season at Anfield, is already on 32 goals for the season, including 24 in the league, one in the FA Cup and seven in Europe.
The Egyptian’s blistering pace has proved a mighty weapon and Salah has dovetailed perfectly with Liverpool’s other exciting attackers.
As well as their free-scoring performances in the Premier League, Liverpool remain very much in the Champions League, having demolished Porto 5-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored 32 times in all competitions so far during this campaign
Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, a reliable goalscorer ever since he arrived in England’s top-flight, has 30 goals this season.
This is comprised of 21 in the Premier League, two in the FA Cup, three in City’s successful EFL Cup run and four in the Champions League.
Given the way City have been playing this season, you wouldn’t bet against the Argentine cracking the 40 goals mark. They are romping away with the title and are among the favourites to win in Europe as well.
We compare the styles and stats of the three players who may match, or even exceed, Ronaldo’s impressive feat from 10 years ago.
Manchester City’s Argentine striker Sergio Aguero has already reached 30 goals this season
| 2017/18 – All Competitions | Salah | Kane | Aguero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | Tottenham | Man City | |
| Games Played | 38 | 37 | 37 |
| Games Started | 36 | 35 | 32 |
| Goals | 32 | 35 | 30 |
| Assists | 9 | 4 | 7 |
| Mins per Goal | 96 | 89 | 97 |
| Left-footed goals | 28 | 14 | 2 |
| Right-footed goals | 3 | 14 | 22 |
| Headed goals | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Goals (inside box) | 28 | 32 | 27 |
| Goals (outside box) | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Penalties | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Missed penalties | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total shots (inc blocks) | 153 | 209 | 144 |
| Shot Conversion Rate % | 20.92 | 16.75 | 20.83 |
| Stats courtesy of Opta |
HARRY KANE
35 goals (24 Premier League, 4 FA Cup, 7 Champions League)
The front-runner to reach 40 goals given he has already scored 35 this season, England striker Kane is most certainly playing himself into form ahead of the World Cup.
Once another August drought was out of the way, Kane has been in consistent goalscoring form, stringing together a number of scoring sequences in consecutive games.
For example, he scored 11 goals in six Spurs matches during September and back-to-back hat-tricks against Burnley and Southampton over Christmas.
A professional who has devoted hours and hours to perfecting his shooting technique on the training field, 24-year-old Kane continues to improve in all aspects of his game.
Kane celebrates scoring his penalty equaliser in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool last month
He is the only one of the three here who averages a goal-a-game across all competitions and the only one to have an even split between left and right-footed goals (14 for each) and headers (seven).
While his shot conversion isn’t as high, it is explained by the fact he takes on considerably more shots – a constant menace in and around the opposition penalty area.
This is now the fourth consecutive season Kane has achieved high scoring standards at Tottenham and he has already matched his career-best goal return of 35 thanks to improved performance in the Champions League.
He should comfortably exceed Ronaldo’s tally of 42 goals from here even if Tottenham are eliminated by Juventus in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Kane fired home during Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Huddersfield back in September
And that has undoubtedly attracted the attention of Real Madrid, who have been linked with a mega money bid for Kane either this year or next.
While fans of the Premier League clubs Kane has scored against will be sick and tired of him, his outstanding form bodes well for England’s chances in Russia this summer.
Remaining matches: Spurs have nine remaining fixtures in the Premier League, are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup where they travel to Swansea City, and their Champions League last-16 tie with Juventus is delicately-balanced at 2-2 ahead of the Wembley second leg on Wednesday. In short, Kane has ample opportunity to smash the 40-goal mark.
MOHAMED SALAH
32 goals (24 Premier League, 1 FA Cup, 7 Champions League)
Few players have enjoyed such a spectacular first season at a Premier League club than Salah, whose integration into the exciting Liverpool frontline has been better than Jurgen Klopp or anyone else could have imagined.
Liverpool’s brand of free-flowing, rapid counter-attacking football suits the fleet-footed Egyptian down to the ground and he has scored regularly throughout the season.
Seven goals against Liverpool’s fellow members of the Premier League top six has been an impressive return, while seven goals in the Champions League have been key to their hopes in Europe.
Mohamed Salah celebrates his goal in Liverpool’s recent 4-1 victory over West Ham
With Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain offering a constant supply line, Salah is never short of opportunities to terrorise defenders.
What has surprised English fans who remember his unsuccessful spell with Chelsea is that Salah has been clinical in front of goal, playing as a centre forward as often as a winger.
Salah has scored in his last seven matches for Liverpool and is in sparkling form as Liverpool aim to cement their top four place and advance far in the Champions League.
Their 5-0 thrashing of Porto away from home in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, a game in which Salah scored, was one of their finest European displays from all eras.
The Egyptian forward scores for Liverpool against Sevilla in the Champions League
Also impressive about Salah is the fact he has supplied nine assists and has a superior shot conversion percentage than both Kane and Aguero. You can basically expect him to score one in every five of his shots on goal.
He needs another eight to reach the 40-goal mark and he has an excellent chance, especially in his current rich vein of scoring form.
Remaining matches: Liverpool also have nine remaining matches this season as they bid for a top four spot, starting with a visit to old rivals Manchester United this Saturday. They are out of the FA Cup but very much a dark horse in the Champions League, where they lead Porto 5-0 ahead of the second leg of their last-16 tie.
SERGIO AGUERO
30 goals (21 Premier League, 2 FA Cup, 3 EFL Cup, 4 Champions League)
Aguero has achieved a 30-plus goal return for Manchester City in three of his six seasons before this one, but the Argentine has never played in a team as good as this one.
Already at the 30-goal mark – from just 36 matches – Aguero continues to shine despite being surrounded by so many superstars.
On the brink of his 200th goal for the club, 29-year-old Aguero is arguably the most consistent striker the Premier League has ever seen.
Slippery inside the penalty box because of his lightning-fast movement and clinical when the ball comes to him, he’s never had so much service as in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side this season.
Aguero rounds the keeper to score in City’s 4-1 FA Cup victory over Burnley in January
There were concerns that the young Brazilian Gabriel Jesus may steal his thunder this season, but, thanks to his injuries and Aguero’s stellar form, that hasn’t come to pass.
Like Salah, the City forward scores on average every five shots and he has also supplied seven assists for his team-mates, not necessarily the preserve of an out-and-out centre forward.
City have already lifted the EFL Cup this season – with Aguero scoring a lovely lobbed goal against Arsenal – and they are racing away with the Premier League with many records set to tumble.
The Argentine forward celebrates after scoring in City’s Champions League win at Napoli
There’s every chance they can triumph in the Champions League as well, a competition where Aguero’s accumulated nous from big matches will come in very handy.
Of the three, he’s the only one to have racked up four goals in a game this season and though he needs another 10 to reach 40 goals, the way City are playing, it is distinctly likely.
Remaining matches: City also have nine matches left in the league and could be crowned champions early next month. They are out of the FA Cup but look certain to advance far in Europe, where they battered Basle 4-0 in the first leg of their last-16 match.