The 2022/23 Premier League season is finally over and what a rollercoaster it had been. Manchester City have done the three-peat and became only the second team in Premier League history to do so after Manchester United.
It was almost as if Erling Haaland won it single-handedly for the CItyzens as the Norwegian scored 36 goals – a record for most goals in a single Premier League season. He was followed closely by another great striker of his generation, Harry Kane.
The English captain scored 30 goals this season which was his best-ever tally in the English top-flight campaign. Erling Haaland might have scored 36 goals but 7 of those were penalties – which is not the most non-penalty goals in a season.
FootTheBall takes a look at the players with the most non-penalty goals in a Premier League season.
Note: This list includes only players who played when the Premier League consisted of only 20 teams, and not 24.
Mohamed Salah – 31 goals (2017/18)
Yes, the top spot belongs to a Liverpool player (Albeit being joint first). Mohamed Salah’s debut season had gone into the history books before a certain Erling Haaland took the Premier League by storm.
The Egyptian King scored 32 league goals in his first season in the English top-flight and just one of those 32 was a penalty. He had formed a formidable trio with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, winning the Champions League and Premier League in the process.
Suárez is surely the most under-rated no. 9 of all time 😤#Suarez #MoSalah #Haaland pic.twitter.com/ir56wkyBLE
— FootTheBall FC (@FootTheBallFC) June 4, 2023
Luis Suarez – 31 goals (2013/14)
Luis Suarez might have not been able to win the Premier League with Liverpool, but the Uruguayan does hold this record alongside Mohamed Salah. The former Liverpool player has a stunning 2013/14 season with the Reds, where he helped them within touching distance of winning their first Premier League title.
Although, a late slip in form caused them to throw their lead which gave Manchester City the title. Surprisingly, of his 31 goals in that season, none of his goals came from the penalty spot – with Steven Gerrard their primary spot-kick taker.
Erling Haaland – 29 goals (2022/23)
The man himself. Erling Haaland had to be on this list. The Norwegian poacher scored a whooping 36 league goals in the 22/23 campaign shattering all possible records in the process.
Of his 36 goals, seven of them were penalties. He took eight penalties of which he converted seven and missed one. Irrespective of his penalty record, Haaland broke several records – including the most goals in a single Premier League season.
Harry Kane – 28 goals (2017/18)
Harry Kane scored 30 goals in the 2022/23 Premier League season, which was his joint individual best in the league. The English captain though scored five penalties from those 30 goals.
During the 2017/18 season, he had 30 goals in that campaign as well, although only two of those were penalties. That means 28 of his goals were not from the spot, which makes him the 4th joint top scorer in the Premier Legaue for non-penalty goals.
Didier Drogba – 28 goals (2009/10)
The man for big occasions at Stamford Bridge. Didier Drogba might have not scored loads of goals like the other players on this list for the clubs, but his contribution in the big matches are compared to none.
The Ivorian holds a record of scoring in 11 out of the 12 finals he has played for Chelsea, which speaks volumes of how he handles pressure. In the 2009/10 season, where Chelsea ran riot under Ancelotti to win the Premier League, Drogba scored 28 non-penalty goals for the Blues forming a formidable partnership with Nicolas Anelka.
Robin Van Persie – 28 goals (2011/12)
By the 2011/12 season, Robin Van Persie was still an Arsenal player, which makes this achievement all the more exemplary. The Dutch striker played for an average Arsenal team back then, where the glory days at Emirates were well past him.
The former Arsenal and Man Utd striker scored a whooping 30 goals and provided 13 assists for the Gunners in the 11/12 season. Out of those, 28 of his goals were not spot-kicks, which clearly says why Sir Alex Ferguson went all out to get his man next season.
Alan Shearer – 28 goals (1995/96)
The 1995/96 was Alan Shearer’s final season at Blackburn Rovers. The former English striker scored a stunning total of 260 goals in the Premier League – a record which is yet to be broken.
Although, with 28 non-penalty goals in the 1995/96 season, this was Shearer’s best season excluding penalty goals. With 31 goals and assists in the league that season, the Newcastle legend also won the Golden Boot that season.