Liverpool forward Mo Salah had a beyond exceptional, heroically memorable season in 2017-18, and Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane took notice. Kane eclipsed the 30 goals scored mark, his most prolific output yet, but it wasn’t enough to win the Golden Boot Award as the Premier League’s top scorer.
That’s because Salah, the PFA and Premier League Player of the Year, broke the scoring record by netting 32 times in 38 times. It broke the previous mark which was held by three men- Cristiano Ronaldo, Alan Shearer and Luis Suarez. Thus, Salah claims the Golden Boot for 2017-18, with Kane looking ahead to potentially reclaiming the honor next season.
The English international has thrown down the gauntlet to the Egyptian magician on the pitch.
“It’s good to have competition, it’s great for the Premier League to have two players at the 30-goal mark,” Kane said, as he was obviously masking his disappointment in not claiming his third straight plaudit.
“Personally for me, it was a target to improve on last year, obviously 29, and it was nice to get to that 30-goal mark. Mo has done great this year, he deserves it, he deserves the Golden Boot, I am looking forward to the competition again next year.”
Kane scored twice in the season finale against Leicester City, but in the end he was, even with the controversial aid of the FA changing a Christian Eriksen goal credit to Kane, a move that was much maligned worldwide, still two short.
Harry Kane then pointed out how he’s been performing on a consistent basis year after year, and then issued to the challenge to Salah to do the same.
“For me, it is about doing it year after year. This is my fourth year now and the first time I have got to 30 goals in the Prem, now it’s about getting to 30 goals for the next two or three years, that’s the aim,” the new face of English football continued.
“Any player wants to do it on a consistent basis and that’s what defines a good player from a great player. He has done amazing this year and he looks like a great player and we’ll see if we can both continue it next season.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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