Chelsea – twice – and Manchester United feature in our pick of the best goals in Premier League opening day history to whet your appetite for the big kick-off in a few hours time.
Which goals are the greatest ever scored in the opening day of the Premier League season and can anybody emulate such success this weekend?
With the opening day of the Premier League season finally upon us footballers up and down the country will be hoping to have a flying start not only as a team but as individuals. Over the years there have been many memorable opening day goals, last season saw Seb Larsson score a sublime bicycle kick against Liverpool whilst Gary Cahill curled in a sweet 25 yarder.
But which are the best ever opening day goals, here is the top 3.
Mario Stanic vs West Ham – 2000
Mario Stanic got injured and became a forgotten man at Chelsea but he will forever live on in the memory for this masterful goal against West Ham at Stamford Bridge.
After showing us his array of ball juggling skills he soon got bored of irritating gravity and fired the ball on the volley in the top right hand corner of Shaka Hislop’s net.
It was like watching the best kid at football keep the ball up on every part of his body before smashing it home in a game of heads and volleys. Lucky for us there is no such thing as a ‘no self-setups’ rule in professional football and we continue to treat ourselves to this gem over and over again.
Gus Poyet vs Sunderland – 1999
This goal is always doing the rounds in the top ten Premier League goals of all time, and there is little wonder why.
The goal itself is majestic. Poyet acrobatically scissor kicking the ball on the full volley whilst suspended in mid air giving Thomas Sorensen absolutely no chance.
But the build up play itself is what makes the goal so memorable, the touch and control of the masterful Gianfranco Zola and then the audacious lobbed pass through, directly into the path of the Uruguayan. Magnificent.
David Beckham vs Wimbledon – 1996
It is one of those ‘where were you when’ moments in football, as the biggest name to ever play the game announced himself onto the scene with a sensational goal against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.
David Beckham picked up the ball, after his team-mates had robbed Efan Ekoku, and from just inside his own half fired in the goal that would travel around the world.
Neil Sullivan went on to have a successful career at international and club level but mention his name and it will always be synonymous with scrambling back to his goal and being helpless to do anything about the indignity of being lobbed from the opposing half.
Considered today as one of the most memorable goals in Premier League history it is hard to believe this moment is now 16 years old.
Could somebody add their name to this list, this weekend?
image: © nasmac
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