2024-25 Premier League top goalscorer predictions: Isak poised to challenge Haaland's dominance

Erling Haaland has topped the Premier League scoring charts for the last two seasons and is odds-on to be the leading goal getter in the 2024-25 campaign, but the Norwegian might face a little extra competition over the next ten months and is at risk of being knocked off his perch.

Punters eager to lump on Haaland at short prices could argue that the case for the Norwegian is a strong one.

The 24-year-old has racked up 63 goals in 66 Premier League appearances and finished last term on 27, five clear of his closest challenger, Cole Palmer.

Haaland’s exploits were all the more impressive because he played the first four months of the season without the help of assist ace Kevin De Bruyne, who was sidelined by a serious hamstring injury.

However, De Bruyne turned 33 in June and it is quite possible that his fitness problems may return in the months ahead.

There is also the need for Haaland to stay fit and sharp.

He made 31 Premier League appearances last season after being hampered by a foot injury in the closing months of 2023 and there will be a heavier workload to factor in this season due to the expanded Champions League format.

Lack of European football could work to Isak's advantage

One player who will not have to worry about additional games is Alexander Isak, because Newcastle’s seventh-placed finish was not quite enough to secure European football.

Newcastle’s overall level dropped last season but that was in no way the fault of their Swedish international centre-forward, who contributed 21 goals in 30 appearances.

Isak’s tally was his best in a league campaign and more than double the ten league goals he delivered in his debut season for the Magpies.

While he has been linked with a move away from Tyneside, Newcastle are adamant that they want to keep Isak at the club for the coming season.

Villa hotshot should continue his impressive scoring form

The 24-year-old is a fast-improving player and, fitness permitting, he should reach an even higher tally which could give Haaland some serious competition.

Another player with scope to improve is Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who was underused during England’s Euro 2024 challenge.

Watkins will be 29 in December but he was a late developer who did not play top flight football until September 2020.

He has flourished under Unai Emery at Villa Park and was joint-second for Premier League goal involvements last season with 19 goals and 13 assists.

Emery must also consider team selection for the Champions League and will need to be careful how he uses Watkins for domestic matches.

However, there should be plenty of Premier League involvement for Watkins, who might even get to take a few penalties now that the club’s former penalty taker, Douglas Luiz, has departed to Juventus.

Watkins and Youri Tielemans are prime candidates for Villa’s spot-kick duties and a few successful penalties for the former could be key to elevating him to a genuine top scorer contender.

Ivan Toney is another player to watch as he looks to get his career back on track after a disrupted 2023-24 campaign.

Getting a taste of Euro 2024 action is likely to spur on the 28-year-old, who bagged 20 goals in the 2022-23 Premier League season.