goalkeepers who scored in EPL history
Scoring a goal is rarely part of a goalkeeper’s assignment. Goalkeepers are employed to stop shots, command their penalty areas and protect their teams from defeat. Yet, on six extraordinary occasions, Premier League goalkeepers crossed football’s traditional boundary and found the net themselves.
The exclusive list of goalkeepers who scored in EPL history contains some of the most recognisable names to have played in England. Peter Schmeichel opened the account in 2001, while Alisson Becker became the sixth and most recent member of the group in 2021.
Between those two moments came goals produced by desperation, courage, powerful clearances, unpredictable weather and remarkable pieces of fortune.
Only six goalkeepers have scored since the Premier League era began in 1992. None of the six goals came from a penalty. Two were scored after the goalkeeper moved into the opposition penalty area, while others travelled extraordinary distances from deep inside the scorer’s own half.
Here are the six goalkeepers who scored in EPL history and the stories that turned them into unlikely goalscorers.
1. Peter Schmeichel for Aston Villa against Everton
Date: October 20, 2001
Match: Everton 3-2 Aston Villa
Type of goal: Volley
Peter Schmeichel became the first goalkeeper to score in Premier League history when he found the net for Aston Villa against Everton at Goodison Park.
With Villa trailing late in the match, Schmeichel abandoned his goal and moved forward for a corner. The ball eventually fell into his path, and the experienced Danish goalkeeper struck a volley from close range.
It was an unusual but technically impressive finish from a player primarily celebrated for preventing goals during his distinguished career.
The goal reduced Aston Villa’s deficit, but it could not rescue a point as Everton held on for a 3-2 victory. Nevertheless, Schmeichel had created Premier League history.
His inclusion among the goalkeepers who scored in EPL history was not completely surprising. Schmeichel had scored several times earlier in his career, including a goal for Manchester United in European competition. Still, his Aston Villa strike made him the first goalkeeper to achieve the feat in the Premier League.
2. Brad Friedel for Blackburn Rovers against Charlton Athletic
Date: February 21, 2004
Match: Charlton Athletic 3-2 Blackburn Rovers
Type of goal: Close-range finish
Brad Friedel became the second goalkeeper on the historic list when Blackburn Rovers faced Charlton Athletic at The Valley in February 2004.
Blackburn were trailing 2-1 as the match entered its closing stages. Friedel moved into Charlton’s penalty area for a late corner, hoping to help his team find an equaliser.
The American goalkeeper reacted quickly when the ball remained loose inside the box, converting from close range to make the score 2-2.
For a brief moment, Friedel appeared to have earned Blackburn a valuable point. However, Charlton responded almost immediately and scored again to win the match 3-2.
The dramatic sequence made Friedel’s achievement bittersweet. He had produced one of the most memorable moments of his career, only to see his team concede at the other end.
Friedel nevertheless secured his place among the six goalkeepers who scored in EPL history. Like Schmeichel before him, his goal came after joining an attack during the desperate final moments of a match.goalkeepers who scored in EPL history
3. Paul Robinson for Tottenham Hotspur against Watford
Date: March 17, 2007
Match: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Watford
Type of goal: Long-range free kick
Paul Robinson’s goal was different from the first two. The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper did not leave his penalty area to attack a late corner. Instead, he scored directly from a free kick taken from deep inside his own half.
Tottenham were leading Watford when Robinson launched the ball towards the opposition penalty area. It bounced on the turf and travelled over Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster before dropping into the net.
The extraordinary strike extended Tottenham’s lead and helped them secure a 3-1 victory.
Robinson’s effort illustrated how dangerous a long delivery could become when the bounce, wind and positioning of the opposition goalkeeper combined perfectly.
It was also the first goal by a Premier League goalkeeper to contribute to a victory. Schmeichel and Friedel had both scored in defeats, but Robinson’s Tottenham side finished on the winning side.
Among the goalkeepers who scored in EPL history, Robinson remains notable because his strike came from a set piece inside his own half rather than a late attacking move.goalkeepers who scored in EPL history
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4. Tim Howard for Everton against Bolton Wanderers
Date: January 4, 2012
Match: Everton 1-2 Bolton Wanderers
Type of goal: Wind-assisted clearance
Tim Howard joined the rare group in January 2012 when Everton hosted Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park.
The American goalkeeper cleared the ball from inside his own penalty area. Strong wind carried it down the pitch before it bounced over Bolton goalkeeper Ádám Bogdán and entered the net.
Howard’s goal, estimated at about 85 yards, gave Everton the lead. His reaction was noticeably restrained because he understood the embarrassment experienced by the goalkeeper at the opposite end.
Bolton recovered from the setback and scored twice to win 2-1, meaning Howard became another goalkeeper whose historic strike came in a losing performance.
The goal remains one of the strangest in Premier League history. It was not an intentional shot, but the official record correctly credited Howard after his clearance travelled untouched into Bolton’s net.
Howard therefore became the fourth member of the goalkeepers who scored in EPL history, eight years after fellow American Brad Friedel achieved the distinction.goalkeepers who scored in EPL history
5. Asmir Begović for Stoke City against Southampton
Date: November 2, 2013
Match: Stoke City 1-1 Southampton
Type of goal: Long-range clearance
Asmir Begović produced perhaps the most astonishing long-distance goal on the list when Stoke City met Southampton in November 2013.
Only seconds had passed when Begović received the ball and struck a long clearance from inside his penalty area. Assisted by the wind, the ball bounced over Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc and crossed the line.
The goal arrived approximately 13 seconds after kick-off and travelled 91.9 metres. It was later recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest goal scored in competitive football at the time, although that record was eventually surpassed.
Begović did not celebrate enthusiastically, partly out of respect for Boruc and partly because the goal resulted from an extraordinary combination of power, weather and an awkward bounce.
Southampton later equalised, and the contest ended 1-1.
Begović became the fifth of the goalkeepers who scored in EPL history and the second in consecutive years after Howard’s wind-assisted effort for Everton in 2012.
6. Alisson Becker for Liverpool against West Bromwich Albion
Date: May 16, 2021
Match: West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Liverpool
Type of goal: Header
Alisson Becker produced the most consequential goalkeeper goal in Premier League history.
Liverpool were drawing 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion and desperately needed a victory to strengthen their Champions League qualification campaign. In the final moments, Alisson left his goal and moved forward for a corner.
Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered the ball into the penalty area, where Alisson rose and directed an excellent header beyond goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
The goal secured a 2-1 victory and triggered emotional celebrations among Liverpool’s players.
Alisson became the first goalkeeper to score a competitive goal for Liverpool, the first Premier League goalkeeper to score with a header and the first to score a winning goal in the competition. The Premier League officially confirmed that the Brazilian had become the sixth goalkeeper to achieve the broader scoring feat.
Unlike the long clearances scored by Robinson, Howard and Begović, Alisson’s effort resembled the finish of a natural centre-forward. He judged the delivery, escaped his marker and placed the header accurately into the corner.goalkeepers who scored in EPL history
His dramatic winner completed the list of six goalkeepers who scored in EPL history.
Complete list of Premier League goalscoring goalkeepers
- Peter Schmeichel, Aston Villa against Everton, 2001
- Brad Friedel, Blackburn Rovers against Charlton Athletic, 2004
- Paul Robinson, Tottenham Hotspur against Watford, 2007
- Tim Howard, Everton against Bolton Wanderers, 2012
- Asmir Begović, Stoke City against Southampton, 2013
- Alisson Becker, Liverpool against West Bromwich Albion, 2021
The six goals can be divided into two broad categories. Schmeichel, Friedel and Alisson scored after advancing into the opposition penalty area. Robinson, Howard and Begović scored from enormous distances after kicking the ball from inside their own half.
Interestingly, only Robinson and Alisson saw their teams win after scoring. Schmeichel, Friedel and Howard scored in defeats, while Begović’s Stoke City drew with Southampton.goalkeepers who scored in EPL history
Why goalkeeper goals remain special
Modern goalkeepers are increasingly expected to pass accurately, start attacks and operate comfortably outside their penalty areas. Scoring, however, remains far beyond their normal responsibility.
A goalkeeper moving forward for a late corner also creates enormous risk. The team temporarily leaves its own net unprotected and can concede immediately if possession is lost.
That is why the list of goalkeepers who scored in EPL history remains so small. These moments usually require an exceptional match situation, a remarkable piece of skill or a rare combination of distance, weather and fortune.
Schmeichel made history with a volley. Friedel reacted like a striker inside a crowded penalty area. Robinson, Howard and Begović scored from distances most outfield players would not attempt. Alisson then delivered the finest dramatic ending of them all with a decisive header.goalkeepers who scored in EPL history
The Premier League has produced thousands of goals since 1992, but only six have been scored by goalkeepers. That rarity ensures the achievements of Schmeichel, Friedel, Robinson, Howard, Begović and Alisson will continue to occupy a distinctive place in English football history.
Until another goalkeeper finds the net, these six men remain the complete and remarkable collection of goalkeepers who scored in EPL history.
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