Sport

6 goalkeepers who have scored Premier League goals

Seeing a goalkeeper score is a rare sight to behold. In fact, it’s so rare that only 6 goalkeepers have ever scored in a Premier League match over a 30 year period. These heroics from the men between the sticks have come as either acts of desperation or sheer flukes but each defining moment has their own story to tell. So, who are the six goalkeepers who have scored Premier League goals?

6 goalkeepers who have scored Premier League goals

Peter Schmeichel – 2001

A trendsetter for many as a regular goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel netted yet another first when he became the first goalie to score in the Premier League. The Dane’s moment came in 2001 when he was playing for Aston Villa in a match against Everton. Trailing 3-1 in stoppage time, Schmeichel came forward and connected beautifully to a Steve Staunton corner with a textbook volley to make it 2-3.

It came a little too late to prevent Everton from winning the match but the iconic image was already set in stone. It came in a remarkable career where the Danish goalkeeping legend scored 10 goals altogether including the league goal for Villa, a goal for Manchester United in the UEFA Cup and even once for Denmark in a 2000 friendly against Belgium. However, it is his Villa goal that gains him entry to our list of goalkeepers who have scored Premier League goals.

Brad Friedel – 2004

Brad Friedel was always an everpresent part of Premier League scored for well over a decade so he was involved in plenty of iconic moments. However, one of his forgotten achievements came in a match in 2004 for Blackburn against Charlton where he netted a dramatic goal at The Valley.

He hooked the ball home from a corner in stoppage time seemingly equalizing for Blackburn and making the scores 2-2. Fate would be cruel though as Claus Jensen broke clear and scored a late winner for The Addicks and succumbing Blackburn to a tough away defeat.

Paul Robinson – 2007

Was it luck or skill? Either way, Paul Robinson is the third member of our list of goalkeepers who have scored in the Premier League after getting himself on the scoresheet during a routine home win for Tottenham against Watford in the 2006/07 season. Robinson punted a free kick long into the Watford half trying to clear it up field.

The ball travelled over 75 yards before a wicked bounce caught Ben Foster off guard and allowed the ball to creep into the net. It was Spurs second of the match and they would go onto win in 3-1 in a game which confined Watford to the bottom of the table. The Hornets were relegated at the end of the season and moments like this helped show why the 06/07 campaign was not one to remember for Watford fans.

– Tim Howard – 2012

It’s not often a goal is scored from over 100 yards out. Yet, Tim Howard managed this in a clash against Bolton in 2012 at Goodison Park. In blustery conditions, Howard’s goal kick was carried far down the pitch and changed direction enough to bamboozle Adam Bogdan in goal and give The Toffees the lead.

Howard’s lack of celebrations were exceptionally gentlemanly whilst his Hungarian counterpart wondered just what happened. Bolton would ironically get the last laugh as they would go on to win the match 2-1 but the game is mostly remembered for Howard’s bizarre opener.

Asmir Begovic – 2013

Fans were still pouring into The Britannia Stadium when Asmir Begovic scored a rather bizarre goal for Stoke against Southampton in their November 2013 clash to gain his spot on our list of goalkeepers who have scored a Premier League goal.

Just 13 seconds into the match, a terrible miscommunication between Dejan Lovren and Artur Boruc saw Begovic’s clearance left unchallenged and bounce between the two and into the net. Comical defending? Defenitely. Intentional threat? Likely. Memorable moment? Guaranteed. Begovic’s strike would later be cancelled out by a Jay Rodriguez strike rendering the match 1-1 but this tied match will be remembered for Begovic’s bizarre opener.

Alisson – 2021

In a season where Liverpool needed all the luck they could get when chasing a Champions League position, up popped their Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson to keep their hopes alive. Drawing at home to already relegated West Brom, Alisson popped up for a corner and leaped highest to give Liverpool a dramatic winner and keep their momentum alive. It was a season-saving goal from Alisson and gave them a vital 3 points to catch up with their rivals in a bid to finish 4^th in the league with just a few games remaining in the season. The goal was particularly sentimental with Alisson dedicating it to his late father after the game.