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Almost 20,000 Premier League goals scored - but which is the best ever?
With the milestone almost certain to be reached over the next seven days, Goal.com suggest five of the best goals from the era and ask you to put forward your other favourites
16 Dec 2011 08:00:00
Getty Images
DEBATE
By Chris Myson
Thirty goals were scored in the Premier League last weekend, which means the competition is almost certain to celebrate the 20,000 goal milestone before Christmas arrives.
Since being rebranded two decades ago, the English top flight has seen 19,964 goals scored and now just 36 more are needed to reach an astonishing landmark.
To mark the occasion, Goal.com wants to know what your favourite goals of the Premier League era have been. With almost 20,000 goals to choose from, you are pretty spoilt for choice and making a definitive list of the best goals is effectively an impossible task.
Here are five particularly memorable league strikes from the last 20 years which certainly rank amongst the best in our view, and we want to hear what you think about our suggestions and which have ranked as your favourite and best goals over the years.
David Beckham scored one of the most memorable goals of the Premier League era so far at Selhurst Park against Wimbledon in on the opening day of the 1996-97 season.
With United already 2-0 ahead, the English starlet – aged just 21 at the time - picked up the ball just inside his own half and realised that the goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan, was standing a long way from his goal.
He looked up before shooting from the halfway line and his effort was judged to perfection, comfortably clearing the scrambling Sullivan but dipping underneath the crossbar.
Beckham was mobbed by his team-mates and the press and public reaction to the goal was unprecedented. A star was born and the rest, as they say, is history.
These days, Paulo Di Canio is known as the unorthodox manager of Swindon Town, but he is fondly remembered as a player who produced a number of memorable moments.
During a four-year stay with West Ham, the Italian scored a stunning goal and Wimbledon were again the team on the receiving end of a tremendous strike.
Trevor Sinclair floated a cross beyond the back post where Di Canio, positioned at what looked like an impossibly tight angle, leapt into the air with both feet and instinctively attempted a scissor kick.
The right-footed effort made perfect contact with the ball and his mid-air volley flew into the far corner before a disbelieving Upton Park erupted.
Dennis Bergkamp produced a moment of magic at St James’ Park which typified the skill and prowess he displayed throughout his playing career.
Just 12 minutes into Arsenal’s game against Newcastle, Robert Pires found the Dutchman with a pass into the edge of the box.
Bergkamp was being marked by Nikos Dabizas, rather than Andy O’Brien – the picture is from later on in the same game – and flicked the ball round the defender with his left foot and spun past him in the opposite direction.
The dumbfounded defender was beaten all ends up in one brilliant piece of skill and movement before Bergkamp finished the job with a cool finish past Shay Given – one of the Gunners’ best ever goals.
Alan Shearer is the record Premier League goalscorer with 260 – an amazing top-flight tally which included some sensational strikes over a long career.
His best came late in a match against Everton in 2002, when a long ball was headed down into his path by Shola Ameobi outside the penalty area.
The striker eyed the looping ball and picked it out of the air by unleashing a stunning right-footed volley which rocketed into the top-right corner from 25 yards.
Shearer celebrated with one arm raised in trademark fashion and the goal is still fondly remembered in the North East.
The most recent goal in our list comes came from Xabi Alonso at Anfield against Newcastle. Alonso had been midway inside his own half when he showed off his defensive midfield skills by dispossessing Charles N’Zogbia.
He then carried the ball forward a few steps to the edge of the centre circle and surprised everybody – including the referee, who had to quickly get out the way due to being in close proximity - by shooting from almost 70 yards.
His bullet effort sped towards goal and the panicking goalkeeper Steve Harper slipped as he backtracked to try and prevent it from going in, meaning the ball bounced just before the goal-line and into the back of the net.
The fact he celebrated with Pepe Reina showed just how far out he actually was. The goal came shortly after he had scored a similar strike in an FA Cup tie against Luton Town – meaning he had amazingly scored twice consecutively from inside his own half.
Do you think one of our suggestions is the best Premier League goal ever? If not, which of the other 20,000 do you feel should be on the list instead? With so many to choose from, what are your most memorable, favourite and best goals from the last two decades? Let us know your views on the debate by posting a comment below or by engaging with us on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Chris Myson on
By Chris Myson
Thirty goals were scored in the Premier League last weekend, which means the competition is almost certain to celebrate the 20,000 goal milestone before Christmas arrives.
Since being rebranded two decades ago, the English top flight has seen 19,964 goals scored and now just 36 more are needed to reach an astonishing landmark.
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To mark the occasion, Goal.com wants to know what your favourite goals of the Premier League era have been. With almost 20,000 goals to choose from, you are pretty spoilt for choice and making a definitive list of the best goals is effectively an impossible task.
Here are five particularly memorable league strikes from the last 20 years which certainly rank amongst the best in our view, and we want to hear what you think about our suggestions and which have ranked as your favourite and best goals over the years.
| David Beckham | MAN UTD v Wimbledon, August 17, 1996 |
David Beckham scored one of the most memorable goals of the Premier League era so far at Selhurst Park against Wimbledon in on the opening day of the 1996-97 season.
With United already 2-0 ahead, the English starlet – aged just 21 at the time - picked up the ball just inside his own half and realised that the goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan, was standing a long way from his goal.
He looked up before shooting from the halfway line and his effort was judged to perfection, comfortably clearing the scrambling Sullivan but dipping underneath the crossbar.
Beckham was mobbed by his team-mates and the press and public reaction to the goal was unprecedented. A star was born and the rest, as they say, is history.
| Paolo Di Canio | WEST HAM v Wimbledon, March 26, 2000 |
These days, Paulo Di Canio is known as the unorthodox manager of Swindon Town, but he is fondly remembered as a player who produced a number of memorable moments.
During a four-year stay with West Ham, the Italian scored a stunning goal and Wimbledon were again the team on the receiving end of a tremendous strike.
Trevor Sinclair floated a cross beyond the back post where Di Canio, positioned at what looked like an impossibly tight angle, leapt into the air with both feet and instinctively attempted a scissor kick.
The right-footed effort made perfect contact with the ball and his mid-air volley flew into the far corner before a disbelieving Upton Park erupted.
| Dennis Bergkamp | ARSENAL v Newcastle, March 3, 2002 |
Dennis Bergkamp produced a moment of magic at St James’ Park which typified the skill and prowess he displayed throughout his playing career.
Just 12 minutes into Arsenal’s game against Newcastle, Robert Pires found the Dutchman with a pass into the edge of the box.
Bergkamp was being marked by Nikos Dabizas, rather than Andy O’Brien – the picture is from later on in the same game – and flicked the ball round the defender with his left foot and spun past him in the opposite direction.
The dumbfounded defender was beaten all ends up in one brilliant piece of skill and movement before Bergkamp finished the job with a cool finish past Shay Given – one of the Gunners’ best ever goals.
| Alan Shearer | NEWCASTLE v Everton, December 1, 2002 |
Alan Shearer is the record Premier League goalscorer with 260 – an amazing top-flight tally which included some sensational strikes over a long career.
His best came late in a match against Everton in 2002, when a long ball was headed down into his path by Shola Ameobi outside the penalty area.
The striker eyed the looping ball and picked it out of the air by unleashing a stunning right-footed volley which rocketed into the top-right corner from 25 yards.
Shearer celebrated with one arm raised in trademark fashion and the goal is still fondly remembered in the North East.
| Xabi Alonso | LIVERPOOL v Newcastle, September 20, 2006 |
The most recent goal in our list comes came from Xabi Alonso at Anfield against Newcastle. Alonso had been midway inside his own half when he showed off his defensive midfield skills by dispossessing Charles N’Zogbia.
He then carried the ball forward a few steps to the edge of the centre circle and surprised everybody – including the referee, who had to quickly get out the way due to being in close proximity - by shooting from almost 70 yards.
His bullet effort sped towards goal and the panicking goalkeeper Steve Harper slipped as he backtracked to try and prevent it from going in, meaning the ball bounced just before the goal-line and into the back of the net.
The fact he celebrated with Pepe Reina showed just how far out he actually was. The goal came shortly after he had scored a similar strike in an FA Cup tie against Luton Town – meaning he had amazingly scored twice consecutively from inside his own half.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Do you think one of our suggestions is the best Premier League goal ever? If not, which of the other 20,000 do you feel should be on the list instead? With so many to choose from, what are your most memorable, favourite and best goals from the last two decades? Let us know your views on the debate by posting a comment below or by engaging with us on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Chris Myson on
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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