Friday 19 May 2017 11:00, UK
Harry Kane took a huge step towards the Premier League Golden Boot as he smashed four goals in Tottenham's 6-1 demolition of Leicester.
The Tottenham striker's stunning four-goal haul at the King Power Stadium took him to 26 for the campaign, two ahead of Everton's Romelu Lukaku and three clear of Arsenal man Alexis Sanchez.
Kane is now the big favourite to claim the prize outright, but could Lukaku or Sanchez close the gap on the final day? We assess the three-way battle…
Kane won last year's Golden Boot with 25 goals but he surpassed that total with his fourth against Leicester on Thursday night. It was the first quadruple of his professional career and made him the first Tottenham player to score four hat-tricks in a season since Jimmy Greaves in 1968/69.
"I've been thinking a lot about getting on the scoresheet this week," he told Sky Sports afterwards. "It's the first time I've scored four goals and it's a good time to do it.
"I was looking to get one or two goals at least and hopefully take it into the last game but now I'm in the driving seat. There's still one game to play so I'm not resting on my laurels. I've got to go out there against Hull and try and get four more."
What's most impressive about Kane's total is that he has managed it in just 29 appearances, meaning he has averaged a goal every 94 minutes. It is the best strike rate of any Premier League player to have scored more than six times this season. He will be confident of adding to his tally against Hull.
A few weeks ago it seemed Lukaku had the prize wrapped up. The Belgian's powerful finish in Everton's 3-1 win over Burnley on April 15 was his 13th goal in 10 Premier League games and made him the first Everton player to score in nine straight home fixtures since Dixie Dean in 1934.
Lukaku was well clear at the top of the scoring charts at that point, but since then he has failed to find the net in four games. It's his most barren run of the season, and on Thursday night in the East Midlands Kane took full advantage.
The Everton man's hopes of sharing the prize - or claiming it outright - now rest on whether he can score at least twice against in-form Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. This has been the best season of his career regardless of what happens on Sunday, but missing out on the Golden Boot would be a frustrating way to end it.
He may be three goals behind Kane but Sanchez's recent form suggests it might be foolish to rule him out of the running completely. The irrepressible Chilean has netted four goals in his last three appearances for the Gunners, including his double in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Sunderland.
Sanchez has already scored one hat-trick this season in Arsenal's 5-1 demolition over West Ham back in December, but his record against Everton does not inspire too much confidence. The 28-year-old has only scored once in five appearances against the Merseysiders.
Sanchez has already achieved his highest total for league goals in a single season, but he has his work cut out to get his hands on the Golden Boot.
"Kane has put himself in a position to win his second Golden Boot. You would be very surprised if he doesn't go and do it. It's difficult for Lukaku to go and score two away at Arsenal. Maybe Sanchez being at home and with Arsenal having more to play for fighting for the top four, but it hasn't been a great night for Lukaku or Sanchez. It's been a massive night for Kane."
It's been a massive night for Kane.
