Danny Murphy names 'main threat' and 'dark horse' who can both challenge Erling Haaland in Premier League golden boot race

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has named two players who can challenge Erling Haaland for the Premier League golden boot this season. Since joining Manchester City in 2022, Erling Haaland has been the top scorer of the English top-flight three times.

The Norwegian has missed out on the golden boot only once, in 2024/25, when Mohamed Salah took home the award. Erling Haaland endured a slow start to the ongoing campaign after failing to score in the Community Shield loss to Arsenal and Manchester City's opening Premier League game against Bournemouth.

However, since then, Erling Haaland has scored five goals in four Premier League games to propel Manchester City to the top of the table. He is now leading the race for the golden boot award, with Liverpool's Alexander Isak chasing him in second-place with four goals.

Despite Liverpool's record signing being in the hunt for the golden boot, Murphy ratedChelsea star Joao Pedro and Arsenal man Kai Havertz as the two players who can actually challenge Erling Haaland. Murphy pointed to how Pedro is being supported by Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers at Chelsea, which makes him a good contender for the golden boot.

He also believes that the Brazilian not playing in Europe also gives him an edge, making him the 'main threat' to the Man City ace in the race. Havertz has been tipped as the 'dark horse' in the golden boot race by Murphy.

Although Murphy does not fancy the German to win the award, he feels the Arsenal man can score loads of goals when fit and available. Although he backed both Pedro and Havertz, Murphy strongly believes Erling Haaland is still the favorite to win the golden boot, thanks to his ability to score scrappy goals even when he's not playing well enough.

Murphy told Snabbare (h/t Metro): "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. "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.

"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. "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."