Premier League

E. Haaland leads the race with 27 goals after 35 matches for Manchester City. He is 5 goals clear of Thiago on 22, while O. Watkins sits 11 back on 16. At the current rate E. Haaland projects to finish on around 29 for the season.

E. Haaland has scored 27 goals for Manchester City this season, accounting for 35% of the team's 77 league goals. The output goes well beyond a flat scoring rate. He is the player Manchester City turn to in tight games and the one defenders have to pick up first. Recent goal hauls include 1 goal against Bournemouth, 1 goal against Brentford, and 1 goal against Everton. The numbers put him in the conversation for player of the season as long as the form holds.

1. E. Haaland (Manchester City) on 27 goals. 2. Thiago (Brentford) on 22 goals. 3. O. Watkins (Aston Villa) on 16 goals. 4. João Pedro (Chelsea) on 15 goals. 5. M. Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest) on 15 goals.

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United tops the assists chart with 21. R. Cherki (Manchester City) is next on 12, and J. Bowen of West Ham rounds out the top three on 11.

E. Haaland of Manchester City is the most efficient finisher in the league at 0.82 goals per 90 minutes. He has 27 goals from 2958 minutes, so volume is not the headline. The story is how rarely he wastes time on the pitch.

Thiago is the breakout story so far. He had 0 goals last season and already has 22 for Brentford, a jump of 22. Something has clicked between role, fitness, and trust from the coaching staff, and the goals tell the rest.