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Jamie Vardy Now Leads EPL in Scoring; Sees Golden Boot Odds Shorten to 6-1

John Dillon

by John Dillon in Soccer News

Updated Apr 4, 2020 · 3:02 PM PDT

Jamie Vrady has scored nine EPL goals in 2019-20.
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy celebrates another goal and is currently in ravenous form as his team challenge the elite clubs in the upper reaches of the EPL. Photo from @Leicester CityOfficial(Twitter).
  • Leicester City hit-man is most prolific scorer with nine goals
  • Striker smashed hat-trick in 9-0 crushing of Southampton
  • Aguero and Abraham are next in line with eight apiece

Jamie Vardy of Leicester City fired himself to the top of England’s Premier League goal-scoring charts with his hat-trick in last Friday’s 9-0 rout of Southampton.

He has never won the EPL’S Golden Boot prize for finishing the season as leading goal-getter. But he is currently on course for his best-ever campaign with nine goals in 10 appearances.

Leicester are one of the most in-form teams in the competition – presently third and highly-rated to claim a top-four position to qualify for the Champions League.

The combination of 32-year-old Vardy’s hunger for goals and his side’s impressive performances mean the oddsmakers have shortened his EPL Golden Boot odds to +600.

EPL Golden Boot Winner 2019-20 Odds

Player Odds
Sergio Aguero +350
Harry Kane +500
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang +500
Jamie Vardy +600
Mohamed Salah +650
Raheem Sterling +700
Tammy Abraham +800
Sadio Mane +1100
Marcus Rashford +4000
Gabriel Jesus +5000

Odds taken October 29, 2019

That makes him fourth-favorite behind leading contender Sergio Aguero of Manchester City, Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal.

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Vardy has been revitalized since Brendan Rodgers became Leicester manager last year. After Rodgers took charge, Vardy scored nine times in the final 10 EPL games of 2018-19.

Salah and Mane a Threat From Liverpool

That consistency and Leicester’s form make his odds to win the prize very promising.

But Mohamed Salah at +650 and his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane at +1100 still offer even better value as Jurgen Klopp’s league leaders drive for the title.

Raheem Sterling’s finishing abilities have been hugely improved by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and he offers value at +700.

Aguero currently has eight EPL goals along with Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham.

England international Vardy’s best season was 2015-16 when Leicester shocked the football world by winning the EPL title. He scored 24 times in 36 league appearances.

Aubameyang and Sterling have seven. Kane has six alongside Teemu Pukki of Norwich City.

England international Vardy’s best season was 2015-16 when Leicester shocked the football world by winning the EPL title. He scored 24 times in 36 league appearances.

He scored 18 times last season in 33 games.

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At his current scoring rate, he could bust the 30-goal mark. This was last beaten by Salah with 32 in 2017-18.

Two Double Strikes

Along with his hat-trick against Southampton, Vardy has twice hit doubles this season; firstly in a 3-1 defeat of Bournemouth in August and again in September in a 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle United.

The hammering of Southampton made Leicester the second-leading goalscorers in the EPL with 25 – behind Manchester City’s 32 and ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea, who have 23.

Last season’s Golden Boot was shared by Aubameyang, Salah and his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane, who each scored 22 goals.

Abraham  had an early prolific patch and hit seven goals in three consecutive games in late August and early September, including a hat-trick in a 5-2 away win for Chelsea at Wolves.

Aguero made a flying start for Manchester City this season by scoring in each of his first six games. But he has not hit the target in four subsequent EPL appearances.

Abraham had an early prolific patch and hit seven goals in three consecutive games in late August and early September, including a hat-trick in a 5-2 away win for Chelsea at Wolves. 

However, he has scored just once in his last five EPL games.

Sterling Prolific on All Fronts

A similar pattern also applies to Sterling. He scored three in Manchester City’s opening day 5-0 win at West Ham United and scored one each in the subsequent EPL matches against Spurs and Bournemouth.

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Since then, he has scored only two more EPL goals – most recently against Aston Villa last weekend.

He has, though, been prolific in other competitions with four goals in the Champions League, one in the EFL Cup and four in four appearances for England.

After hitting five goals in Norwich City’s opening three fixtures, Finnish striker Teemu Pukki has gone quiet – with only one more strike in seven EPL games.

Aubameyang has not scored in Arsenal’s three most recent EPL games as the team has struggled.

Kane scored in Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat at Liverpool last Sunday – making it one in his most recent three EPL games as Spurs, too, have struggled.

After hitting five goals in Norwich City’s opening three fixtures, Finnish striker Teemu Pukki has gone quiet – with only one more strike in seven EPL games.

With Liverpool looking to make a real run at the EPL title this season, I’ll back Salah to play a big role and back him to once again win the Golden Boot.

Pick: Mohamed Salah +650

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