One of the more interesting subplots of any Premier League season is the race for the Golden Boot.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah were joint recipients of the title last season after all finishing on 22 goals.
That figure could be comfortably exceeded this time around, with a number of familiar names – such as Aubameyang, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling – starting the campaign in prolific form.
They are joined at the top of the scoring charts by two players who excelled in the Championship last season: Tammy Abraham and Teemu Pukki.
Using Opta data, we take a closer look at the records of those five in the opening five games of the season and compare their stats from the same period in the 2018-19 campaign.
SERGIO AGUERO (MANCHESTER CITY) - SEVEN GOALS
Aguero has started the season in blistering form and sits atop the scoring charts with Abraham on seven goals.
It is a marked improvement on his tally of three at the same stage last season; a period in which he played an additional 32 minutes.
It is little surprise that Aguero is finding the net regularly, given his superb record since joining City in 2011, but it is his ruthless efficiency this season that has caught the eye. The Argentina international's seven goals have come from just eight shots on target.
Aguero has been far from selfish so far this term, however, carving out seven chances for his team-mates; one of which has been dispatched.
TAMMY ABRAHAM (CHELSEA) - SEVEN GOALS
Chelsea's transfer ban might well have forced Frank Lampard to use Abraham more than he had planned, but the 21-year-old has well and truly taken his chance.
His electric beginning to the campaign is in contrast to a comparatively sluggish start to life on loan with Aston Villa in the Championship last season where he scored just twice in the club's opening five games.
He has played 80 minutes fewer in the top flight so far this season but has scored seven goals from just eight shots on target.
His hat-trick against Wolves at the weekend made him the third player in Premier League history to score two or more goals in three consecutive appearances aged 21 or younger.
TEEMU PUKKI (NORWICH CITY) - SIX GOALS
The Finland international has been one of the surprise packages of the season, plundering six goals for the newly promoted Canaries.
He scored a whopping 29 goals to help his side win promotion last season but started slowly, scoring just two goals in his first five appearances.
There has been no such slumber at the start of this campaign, however.
He took just three shots in his opening five games last season, but Daniel Farke's aggressive approach to life in the top flight has clearly benefited Pukki, who has already attempted 12 shots.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (ARSENAL) - FIVE GOALS
It is hardly a surprise that the Gunners striker is among the deadliest strikers so far this season.
Since his Premier League debut in February 2018, only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (53) has been directly involved in more goals in the competition (37 goals and nine assists).
The bad news for defences across the country is that he might be getting even more prolific.
He scored just once in his opening five games last season, but his brace against Watford on Sunday means he already has five to his name this campaign. Given that start, it will not be a surprise to see him comfortably surpass last season's tally of 22 goals.
RAHEEM STERLING (MANCHESTER CITY) - FIVE GOALS
Sterling set his stall out this season with a hat-trick in City's resounding opening day victory over West Ham.
It marked the continuation of a stunning few seasons for the former Liverpool man, who is now firmly considered to be one of the Premier League's deadliest finishers.
With 49 touches in the opposition box already this season – 18 more than his nearest rival in the top five – it is hardly surprising that he has five goals to his name; two more than he had in the same period last term.
He has also been a consummate team player, laying on eight chances for his team-mates.
