- Man City face Brentford on Saturday
- Haaland leads Golden Boot race
- Brentford’s Igor Thiago is close behind
Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has been predicted to score against Brentford on Saturday, in a game that could prove crucial for deciding this year’s Premier League Golden Boot winner.
The Norwegian striker currently has 25 goals in the league this season, but his tally is being hunted down by Brentford’s Igor Thiago.
Brazilian international Thiago has scored 22 for the Bees this season, in an incredible impressive campaign for the West London club.
The two Golden Boot rivals go head-to-head on Saturday, with pundit Chris Sutton predicting it will be the Man City man who emerges victorious.
Erling Haaland predicted to score in golden boot race
In his weekly predictions for BBC Sport, pundit Chris Sutton was joined by WBO heavyweight boxing world champion Fabio Wardley.
The pair were in agreement that City would beat Brentford, with Sutton also predicting Haaland would be on the scoresheet.
Sutton said: “The title is out of Manchester City’s hands now after their 3-3 draw at Everton, but their late equaliser on Monday could still turn out to be huge. City getting a point means Arsenal still have to win their final three games to be sure of being champions, so it is not over yet.”
Our last 5️⃣ home goals against Brentford 🙌 pic.twitter.com/CAfG8bc8zb
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 7, 2026
Pep Guardiola’s side definitely have to win this game, though, and to do it they will have to be more ruthless in front of goal. Brentford are in the mix for the top six and only lost narrowly to City earlier in the season.
“I am being selfish here, but just for my Fantasy team I need Erling Haaland to have a strong finish to the season so I am going for City – and him – to get among the goals on Saturday.”
Sutton’s prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Brentford
Wardley added: “City’s draw with Everton was such a mad game. I turned it on midway through the first half, and it looked like City were pretty comfortable, but then the game just took off near the end. They are still in the mix, though, and I think they will put Brentford away. 2-0.”
Saturday’s game could decide the Golden Boot winner
With just three goals separating them, Saturday’s Brentford test is massive for Haaland and Thiago, and could very well decide who sins this season’s award.
The pair are the only two real contenders in the race, with Chelsea’s Joao Pedro the next-closest challenger on 15 goals, alongside another City man in Antoine Semenyo.
Should Sutton’s prediction come true, Haaland could pull another goal clear of Thiago, putting him four ahead with three games to go.
Such a result would surely put the Golden Boot race beyond all doubt, barring an incredible couple of games from the Brentford striker.
Haaland has quietly gone about his business
The general consensus around Erling Haaland from a lot of corners is that he has had somewhat of a quiet year by his standards.
He may not have delivered the record-breaking, 36-goal season he produced when he first arrived at the Etihad in 2022.
However, he has delivered when it matters and has already scored more goals this season than he managed last campaign, despite the narrative from some that his form has been inconsistent.
If he does win the Golden Boot, it will be a well-deserved piece of recognition, and a worrying reminder to rivals that even when not at his best all season, Haaland is still comfortably the most deadly striker in the Premier League.
