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6 contenders for Premier League goal of the season

Dwight McNeil and Erik Lamela scored Goal of the Season contenders in another busy weekend of Premier League action. McNeil’s long-range curler and Lamela’ impudent Rabona are sure to feature on highlight reels come the end of the campaign, but which other goals are also in the mix for honours? We’ve picked out six of the best goals of the Premier League season so far.

 

Six goal of the season contenders

 

Erik Lamela (vs. Arsenal, March 14th)

Many have already crowned Lamela the winner of this year’s Goal of the Season competition and it will certainly take something special to wrench the prize out of his hands.

There did not seem to be much on when the ball fell to Lamela on the edge of the box in the first half of Sunday’s North London Derby at Emirates Stadium, especially as it was on his right foot, which throughout his career has just been for standing on.

Lamela had scored a Rabona for Spurs in the Europa League a few years ago, but this effort was even better.

The Argentine wrapped his left foot around his right and stabbed the ball through the legs of Thomas Partey and past the stunned Bernd Leno in the Arsenal goal.

Lamela later got himself sent off and Spurs lost, but it was a remarkable strike all the same.

 

 

Dwight McNeil (vs. Everton, March 13th)

McNeil has been one of the best-kept secrets in the Premier League since his emergence as a teenager, but Burnley will not be able to keep the winger under wraps for long after this fine goal.

The 21-year-old has increasingly been drifting inside of late and he spotted an opening against Everton on Saturday, beating Allan with a clever piece of skill to create a pocket of space from which was an opportunity to shoot from distance.

The 25-yarder was in from the moment it left McNeil’s left foot, clipping the woodwork on its way in to make the strike look even more special. Jordan Pickford had absolutely no chance.

It was a world-class goal from a player who is hitting top form for the Clarets right now, helping to move Sean Dyche’s side clear of the relegation scramble below.

 

 

Sebastien Haller (vs. Crystal Palace, December 16th)

He left the club just a couple of weeks later, but Haller left West Ham fans with something special by which to remember his mostly forgettable spell at London Stadium.

At the same end that Andy Carroll scored a similarly acrobatic goal against the same opposition a few years ago, a cross from the right wing found Haller in plenty of space at the back post.

But the centre was behind the Frenchman so he improvised, hurling himself into a spectacular bicycle kick that sent the ball crashing past helpless Palace goalkeeper Guaita.

This one took the December 2020 Goal of the Month award and it could be the strongest competition for Lamela. Will the Goal of the Season award to a player no longer in the division?

 

 

Mohamed Salah (vs. West Ham, January 31st)

January’s prize went to Salah, who is leading the race for the Golden Boot once more. West Ham have been a huge threat from set pieces this season, but they conceded a sensational counter-attacking goal to Salah from their own corner at the end of January.

Trent Alexander-Arnold started the move from the edge of his own box with a trademark switch of play that sent Xherdan Shaqiri clear down the right flank. Salah had looked interested in chasing the initial pass but he decided to leave the ball for his team-mate to peel into the centre instead, with Shaqiri hitting a perfect first-time ball that floated into the Egyptian’s path.

A sure first touch to get the ball out of his feet was followed by a delicious dink past Lukasz Fabianski. Liverpool had turned a dangerous moment at the other end to a goal of their own in just a few seconds and a handful of touches of the ball.

 

 

James Maddison (vs. Manchester City, September 27th)

Maddison is no stranger to scoring from distance, but this one against Manchester City was his best yet with this wondergoal among the most memorable of the new season’s early weeks.

He was involved in the build-up as Leicester – already 3-1 up at the Etihad thanks to Jamie Vardy’s treble – worked some smart triangle passing to create room on the left flank.

Maddison then drove into space and took advantage of City’s defence backing off to unleash a quite sensational hit that flew across Ederson and into the top corner. A superb strike and deserbed Goal of the Season candidate.

 

 

Bruno Fernandes v Everton, February 6

Player of the Season contender Fernandes could have made the shortlist for a perfect left-footed volley against West Brom, but we prefer this one scored with his right foot against Everton.

The Toffees gave United far too much time and space in midfield and Fernandes made them pay in stunning fashion. Standing in the right channel, Fernandes dummied a pass from Fred out to Wan-Bissaka, with the full-back then feeding the ball back to the Portugal star.

Another dummy was easily bought by Tom Davies to give Fernandes more space 25 yards out but nobody, especially the Everton goalkeeper Robin Olsen, expected him to shoot.

Fernandes clearly fancied his chances from the corner of the box, though, whipping an outrageous finish across Olsen. Unstoppable and reminiscent of United icon Eric Cantona.

 

 

 

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