Danny Murphy believes Chelsea striker Joao Pedro is the “main threat” to Erling Haaland winning a fourth Premier League Golden Boot award. Manchester City’s Haaland has scored five goals in his first five Premier League appearances this season, topping the goalscoring charts. He already has three Golden Boot awards, missing out only once since joining City, in the 2024-25 campaign when Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah edged him out.
Murphy’s verdict on Pedro and Havertz
Murphy expects Haaland to finish the season as the Premier League’s top scorer again and sees Pedro as his biggest rival. Pedro has scored three goals for Chelsea this term, putting him joint-third in the early standings behind Haaland and Liverpool striker Alexander Isak, who has four. Murphy also views Arsenal’s Kai Havertz as a possible “dark horse” in the race, given his importance to Mikel Arteta’s defending champions. Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting last summer, but Havertz has retained his status as Arteta’s first-choice striker.
“I think Joao Pedro is his main threat to Erling Haaland because of all the qualities he’s got and, more importantly, who’s feeding him,” the former England midfielder told Snabbare. “When you’ve got Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers feeding him every week, if they stay fit and aren’t in Europe playing one game a week, he’s going to get chances, that’s for sure.”
Haaland’s scoring ability praised
Murphy added: “I still think even if he has a brilliant season he’ll fall behind Haaland, because Haaland’s got this wonderful ability to score all types of scrappy goals even when he’s not playing well or looks a little bit out of the game. He somehow finds a way of scoring. It’s ridiculous and incredible what he’s doing.”
On Havertz, Murphy said: “The other dark horse, if he stays fit, might be Havertz, not necessarily to catch Haaland, but to be in the top three or four, because Havertz is a calm finisher. If he stays fit Arsenal are going to get him chances, plus he’s brilliant in the air. I think he could be up there pushing behind Haaland, because if Arsenal keep dominating and winning games like they do, and he looks fit, he’s going to score loads of goals.”
McCoist backs Haaland as clear favourite
Ally McCoist also views Haaland as the clear favourite to end the season as top goalscorer and says Pedro will do well to get near the Norwegian’s tally. “If Joao Pedro finishes within eight or ten goals of Erling Haaland, he’s had an outstanding season,” McCoist told talkSPORT Bet. “Haaland is simply on another level.”
“I’m telling you right now, there’s my prediction. If you can get within 10, honestly, if you can get in between 10, I still think you’ll have scored 15, 20 over the great season. He’s just at a different level. Under Enzo Maresca, City are putting more crosses into the box again, which suits Haaland perfectly as he attacks deliveries at the back post. Haaland will be the top scorer again, likely by a comfortable margin.”
