Suarez vs Sturridge: Who will win the golden boot this season?

Luis Suarez

Such is his level of talent, Liverpool’s talisman was touted as one of the favourites to win the Premier League golden boot at the start of the season, despite the huge question marks hovering over his discipline and commitment to the Merseysiders’ cause.

The 27-year-old was ruled out of the first five games of the season as he completed the remainder of his ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and strike partner Daniel Sturridge already had four goals to his name by the time he returned to the side in late September.

However, Suarez hit the ground running and scored six goals in his five appearances and quickly rubbished any rumours he would follow suit similar to Fernando Torres, when the Spaniard wanted to engineer a move away from Anfield, by focusing on achieving his Champions League ambitions under Brendan Rodgers.

The former Ajax man has been the best player in the league this season by some distance and with regards to his calendar year, it is difficult to argue that he is not far behind Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, whether you love or loathe his antics on the pitch.

Although the Uruguayan is currently experiencing a drought of Saharan proportions by his own ridiculously high standards, having failed to find the net in four Premier League appearances, his overall record stands at 23 goals in 22 appearances this season, which is the same as his total for the last campaign.

Luis Suarez stats

Although he has been pushed out to the right by Rodgers since Sturridge returned from injury, the percentages are still stacked in Suarez’s favour. The Englishman may have scored 14 goals on the 13 occasions when the pair have been on the pitch together, compared to Suarez’s 12, but this highlights that Sturridge needs Suarez more than vice versa.

Suarez scored 11 goals during Sturridge’s eight game injury absence during what was his most fruitful spell of the campaign, so there is an argument that the Uruguayan fails to find the net when the 24-year-old is alongside him. But Suarez should edge out his team mate simply because he has the ability to score from any situation and makes goals for himself out of nothing.

Luis Suarez stats

The pair’s shot accuracy is the same (55%), but Suarez is involved in far more of Liverpool’s chances. Suarez has had a league high 77 shots on target, which is just shy of double what his strike partner had managed with 40. His total shot count also stands at a huge 123, 56 more than then Englishman. Another factor that tips the balance in Suarez’s favour is that he often dictates set pieces for the Merseysiders, with three goals from free-kicks.

Luis Suarez shot accuracy

Suarez is such a devastating player when he is on top form that he is simply unplayable; another dose of the single handed beating he gave to Norwich earlier in the season could be just around the corner. Another hat-trick or four goal haul will propel him past the 30 goal mark. With 11 games left to play it will prove just beyond Sturridge to overturn a five goal deficit but Suarez should go on to claim the top scorer accolade not just in England but the continent.