Liverpool striker Luis Suarez looks like becoming the first South American to win the Premier League Golden Boot outright.
The Uruguayan international scored a hat-trick against Cardiff City this weekend to take his total tally for the season to 28 goals, nine ahead of his team-mate Daniel Sturridge on 19. Suarez was also a contender to finish as top scorer last season, though a suspension at the end of the season due to a controversial bite on Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic saw him finish with 23 goals, missing the last few matches, which allowed Robin van Persie of Manchester United to claim the end-of-season award. With the former Ajax man eclipsing his previous record this year, he has also gone ahead of former Manchester City man Carlos Tevez in terms becoming the South American to score the most goals in a Premier League season.
Tevez, who also had spells at Manchester United and West Ham United, had his best campaign in England in 2010, scoring 23 goals for City, though his tally of 20 the following season saw him finish joint-top of the scoring charts alongside Dimitar Berbatov. Barring a disastrous run between now and the end of the season, Suarez will certainly become the first South American to win the Golden Boot outright, and he will now have Tevez’s overall record in his sights.
The Argentine, now of Juventus, is the leading South American scorer in Premier League history with 84 goals. Suarez still has some way to go, however, with his hat-trick this weekend taking him to 66 league goals in total in English football.
The Reds star has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer, but he could well overtake Tevez if he remains at Anfield for one more season.
