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Erling Haaland has been informed that Mohamed Salah will find the net more frequently this campaign due to his reduced dependence on service from team-mates.
That's the assessment from former Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce, who reckons the Liverpool legend will claim the Premier League scoring crown for a consecutive season.
The 33-year-old secured his fourth Golden Boot in total last term following his 29-goal haul that contributed to the Reds clinching the Premier League championship in Arne Slot's inaugural season at the helm.
Only Thierry Henry has claimed as many Golden Boots as Salah. A fifth success this campaign would represent yet another milestone the Egyptian has achieved during his remarkable spell on Merseyside.
Salah's triumph last term ended Haaland's two-year stranglehold on the accolade as the Norwegian, who still managed 22 league strikes, was sidelined for nearly a month with an ankle problem.
Both forwards made encouraging starts on the opening weekend of the fresh Premier League campaign, with Salah converting Liverpool's final strike in their 4-2 Anfield triumph against Bournemouth, whilst Haaland was amongst four players to bag a double in the top division as City cruised to a 4-0 victory at Wolves, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Speaking to BestBettingSites, Pearce highlighted Salah's reliability and his reduced reliance on colleagues providing opportunities as reasons why he believes he'll edge out Haaland this term. He contended: "I think Salah will once again [be] top-scorer. He plays all the games.
"There doesn't seem to be any rotation with Mo Salah either. You see certain players get taken off, or maybe not start games that are not seen as critical games. Salah seems to start all the time. So I still feel as though Salah will be the top scorer.
"Haaland, he's going to be in the top two or three, there's no doubt about that. Like Salah, Haaland really plays all the games. Pep picks him all the time. But I just feel as though maybe he's beholden a little bit more to the supply line behind him, more so than Salah.
"I think Salah creates more for himself. That's why I put him at number one. Haaland will be number two or three in the goal scoring charts, no doubt about that. But I'm not sure he'll pip Salah."
Pearce went further by backing Salah's side to claim the championship, believing the Reds will secure the league crown for the first time since 1984. "I think Liverpool will win it," the former England defender declared.
"Liverpool have strengthened really well from winning the title. If [Alexander] Isak arrives, that will make them even stronger, so that could be a huge advantage to come. There's also been talk about Marc Guehi coming to Anfield. So that would be two more outstanding Premier League players in the squad for the season to come. I think Chelsea will come second.
"I think the other two in with a shout are Manchester City and Arsenal. But it will be a great title race." Following their initial triumph against the Cherries, Slot's team is gearing up for their first major challenge of the season as they head to Newcastle on Monday night.
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