Premier League: Goal Of The Season Winners

  • The five most spectacular goals of recent seasons are celebrated

  • Two Spurs players pull off moments of pure magic 

  • Wayne Rooney scores more unforgettable goals than any other player

The Premier League Goal of the Season award is only five years young but in due course will surely become an esteemed accolade that resides alongside the Golden Boot and Team of the Year.

Introduced to commemorate goals that are out of the ordinary, that propel supporters from their seats in open-mouthed astonishment, it was recently decided to back-date the award to honour the best seasonal slice of individual magic going right back to the league’s forming in 1992.

PL Goal Of The Season Winners List:

Here though, we are concentrating on the five official winners, initially voted for by the public before being whittled down to one unforgettable, stand-alone effort by a panel of experts.

These are goals that remind us why we endure the 0-0 draws in the rain. Because at any given moment, from seemingly nowhere, sorcery takes place and transports us to a whole other world.

Premier League Goals of the Season

Emre Can (16/17)

It’s a pretty safe football prediction to back the Reds to challenge for the title this season. After all, Jurgen Klopp’s side are back to their formidable best and racking up wins on a weekly basis.

That was not the case in the German’s inaugural campaign however and with five games to go, Liverpool travelled to Watford needing a win to keep them in the top four reckoning.

An early injury to Philippe Coutinho necessitated that Can was pushed further forward and just before the break that tactical switch paid off handsomely when a curling cross was met by an audacious scissors kick.

Any acrobatic strike that finds the net is impressive, but what made this wonder-goal really stand out was that it was achieved ‘on the run’, with the midfielder merely slowing his pace to perform the incredible feat.

The aim was true. The execution was remarkable.

Sofiane Boufal (17/18)

Betting on football online is fun because it rewards analysis and gut instinct.

Then an erratic talent comes on as a substitute and with five minutes to go in a game locked in stalemate, enacts an utterly ridiculous exercise in pure brilliance that throws the formbook and intuition out of the window.

At that point you just have to laugh and hold your hands up. Football has done a madness.

The Moroccan midfielder only scored twice for the Saints this season, and one of them was a ludicrous one-man adventure that saw him beat three opponents before he even reached the halfway line.

If slaloming his way through almost the entire Baggies side was not eye-catching enough, there is even a moment when two players comically collide in their desperate attempt to stop him. That just makes it perfect.

Andros Townsend (18/19)

The latest Premier League odds have City down as favourites for the title and rightly so. The Blues will be wary though of having to still face Everton twice, especially when the ball falls to Townsend thirty yards out.

When Pep Guardiola’s side hosted Palace at the Etihad over the Christmas period of 2018 their home record to that point read, played nine, won nine.

Clearly it was going to take something special to temporarily halt their march to a fourth Premier League crown.

That something special arrived after half an hour with the score at 1-1. A headed clearance was thumped on the full volley; a clean strike that screamed into Ederson’s top corner.

Pick whatever superlative you like for this one: spectacular; out of this world; stupendous. None of them do it justice.

Son Heung-min (19/20)

Some memorable goals are over in a heartbeat. Others build and build. When Son gains possession on the edge of his own box against Burnley in December 2019, his first thought is to lay it off.

He looks around, spying a dash out wide from Dele Ali but at the point of release two opponents descend, requiring him to sprint away from them.

This interests two further opponents who seek to close the South Korean attacker down so now Ali is in acres of space with Son surrounded by four Clarets players. But the pass is no longer on.

A burst of speed and a heavy-ish touch takes the quartet out of the equation while a nimble change of direction leaves a fifth flat-footed.

And suddenly, a 70-yard lung-busting charge has brought a sight of goal with just Nick Pope to beat. The composed finish belied the kinetic brilliance that preceded it.

One of the best Asian players in Premier League history had just scored one of the best Premier League goals of all time.

Erik Lamela (20/21)

If you’re going to pull off a cheeky rabona finish that dumbfounds three defenders and nestles into the corner of the net, unquestionably the best time to do it is during a derby at the home of a fierce rival.

That’s precisely what Lamela did last term at the Emirates, instantly securing legendary status among the Spurs faithful.

Regrettably there were no fans to witness the Argentine’s alchemy while the midfielder later blotted his copybook by seeing red for a stray elbow.

But the empty stands and his sending off will be forgotten through the midst of time. His marvellous impudence will not be.

BBC Goal of the Season

The Premier League Goal of the Season merit may be relatively new-fangled but for decades now the BBC have paid tribute to spectacular feats in English football with their own award.

Via Match of the Day, some truly iconic long-range strikes and solo efforts have been suitably recognized and celebrated, including Justin Fashanu’s dipping volley at Carrow Road that amazes to this very day and Keith Houchin’s diving header for Coventry that won them the FA Cup against the odds.

Unsurprisingly, Denis Bergkamp features on the illustrious rollcall of past winners as too Matt Le Tissier who for several years could probably have justified a goal of the season award just for himself.

Even so, it’s Wayne Rooney who has won the BBC’s version the most and that seems logical given that the Manchester United great was one of the youngest goal scorers in the top-flight but also, a good many seasons later, one of the oldest.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 22nd October 2021

October 22, 2021
Premier League

By Stephen Tudor

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    Stephen Tudor is a freelance football writer and sports enthusiast who only knows slightly less about the beautiful game than you do.

    A contributor to FourFourTwo and Forbes, he is a Manchester City fan who was taken to Maine Road as a child because his grandad predicted they would one day be good.

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    Barry Geraghty Meets Henry de Bromhead | National Hunt Season Preview 2021/22

    888sport horse racing ambassador and legendary Irish jockey Barry Geraghty chats to Henry de Bromhead ahead of the 2021/22 National Hunt season.

    De Bromhead had a season to remember last year, winning six Cheltenham Festival races - including the holy trinity of the Gold Cup, Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle - before claiming a one-two in the Grand National at Aintree.

    We sent Barry Geraghty to De Bromhead's yard in Knockeen to discuss his rise to the top, with the master trainer paying tribute to stable jockey Rachael Blackmore and discussing some of his top horses to watch ahead of the 2022 Festival.

    Blackmore became the first female rider to win the Aintree showpiece in April 2021 as she steered Minella Times to glory. Will the duo enjoy more success at the 2022 meeting? Only time will tell...

    Here, we've transcribed Geraghty's chat with De Bromhead as the two racing legends discuss long term targets for some of the top horses in the yard, with the likes of Bob Olinger, Put The Kettle On and Honeysuckle taking centre stage.

    So without further ado, it's time to get the inside scoop from the De Bromhead yard ahead of the big horse racing betting events later in the season.

    Honeysuckle:

    “I couldn’t see any reason to change. We’ll start in the Hatton’s Grace – I’ll try to have her a bit fitter than I did last year where she got me out of trouble.

    "We’ll back off then and aim for the spring with the Irish Champion Hurdle, then the Champion Hurdle and maybe Punchestown. She seems great, she’s summered really well. She seems in good form, she looks bigger and stronger.”

    Honeysuckle


    Bob Olinger:

    “He’ll start off in a beginners chase in mid November and we’ll see from there. I’ve been toying with the idea of the Drinmore Chase but we need to win the beginners first.

    "He seems really good and is in great form, he did a good piece of work the other day and we’re looking forward to him over fences.”

    Put The Kettle On:

    “She’ll go for the Shloer Chase and then we’ll see after that. We wanted to try and run her at Gowran Park but the ground was too ground.

    "We’ll aim for the Shloer and decide what we’ll do after that – I’m not convinced Leopardstown is her kind of place but we might look at Kempton. We were going to go there last Christmas for the Desert Orchid so that’s an option."

    Minella Indo:

    “Minella Indo will go to Down Royal for the three mile Champion Chase. We’ll see how that goes and then make a plan.

    "We’re toying with the idea of the King George but we’ll start at Down Royal and work from there.”

    A Plus Tard:

    “He favours going left handed – he is a much better horse going left.

    "I think Haydock for the Betfair Chase in November and then back to Leopardstown for the Savills Chase at Christmas.”

    Minella Times


    Quilixios:

    “He’s only a four year old so it’s a bit tougher for him this year. We’re aiming to start him in the same race Aspire Tower won last year and then we’ll see how things progress after that.

    "We plan on going down the Champion Hurdle route hopefully but he’ll have to perform well in that Down Royal race.”

    Tellmesomethinggirl:

    “Her main aim is the two and a half mile mares hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas.

    "She’ll probably have a run before that and then she’ll be aimed for the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham.”

    When Barry Met Henry...

    So there you have it folks - the first video with 888sport ambassador Barry Geraghty and top jumps trainer Henry de Bromhead is live and ready for your viewing pleasure.

    Our team of horse racing experts will be back with their Cheltenham tips and predictions in the build up to the Festival.

    In the meantime, you can follow NAP of the day tips, Cheltenham trends and more here at 888sport. You can watch the full discussion between Barry Geraghty and Henry de Bromhead below.

    *Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

     

    FIRST PUBLISHED: 22nd October 2021

    October 22, 2021
    Horse Racing

    By 888sport

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    The 888sport blog is here to offer betting and tipping advice on the biggest sports fixtures, events and competitions around the world.

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    The 10 Best Small Forwards In NBA (2021/22)

    • LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard top the small forward rankings for 2021/22

    • Veterans and players on rookie-scale contracts compete for the 4-10 spots

    • Read below for our list of the best small forwards this season

    The All-Star level two-way wing is the grail for NBA franchises in 2021/22. Players who can swing NBA betting at both ends are vital. Our list of the best small forwards in 2021/22 features many such players.

    We’ve got Finals MVPs at the top end, and players who are still making their way as major factors in NBA predictions further down. Here are our top 10 small forwards right now…

    10) Gordon Hayward

    Two big contracts and injuries have led to an odd perception of Gordon Hayward. Sure, he misses a lot of time, and perhaps he’s overpaid, but when he’s on the court, he’s still a very good wing.

    The Hornets were 4.2 points per 100 possessions better with Hayward on the floor last season. He shot 41.5% from three, recorded 4.1 assists and scored almost 20 per night.

    While his mobility has been hampered slightly by all the health issues, Hayward remains a good defensive player. There was a lot of competition for the tenth spot here – Hayward’s all-round skillset gives him the nod.

    Gordon Hayward


    9) Michael Porter Jr

    Michael Porter Jr is a very popular sports betting pick to win Most Improved. With Jamal Murray out for most of the year, Porter is the number two guy on the Nuggets alongside reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.

    Porter is a knockdown shooter. A quick trigger and high release have drawn comparisons to Klay Thompson. In line for 20 or so field goal attempts per game this season, he could find himself among the league’s leading scorers in 2022.

    Playmaking and defence (even with his progress late last season) are the weaknesses. Address those and he could be edging towards All-NBA calibre.

    Michael Porter Jr


    8) DeMar DeRozan

    Primarily an off-guard when he was at the Raptors, DeMar DeRozan has walked the familiar path of veteran players and moved up the positions. He played a fair bit of the four in San Antonio last season, a role he will likely fulfil again as a Bull.

    Chicago will probably start DeRozan as a small forward for most of the season. He’s a different type of player to Porter and several others featured here, though.

    DeRozan doesn’t shoot threes. He’s a subpar defender. His game is about creating his own shots and making plays for others.

    Often criticised (sometimes fairly), DeRozan is a divisive player in the 2020s, and while he’s limited, he’s absolutely deserving of a top 10 berth.

    DeRozan


    7) Brandon Ingram

    Brandon Ingram flourished when he left LeBron James – one of the greatest NBA players – and the Lakers for New Orleans. The Pelicans have been on the cusp of turmoil for the best part of two seasons, however.

    Ingram has been durable, playing 123 games across his two campaigns in The Big Easy. He’s evolved as a creator, averaging five dimes per game as a Pelican, and has become one of the league’s better scorers.

    Defence is currently holding him back. Return to his early-career form on the defensive end and Ingram can bridge the gap to the best small forwards in the league.

    Brandon Ingram


    6) Jaylen Brown

    Earning his first All-Star selection amid a strong breakout year, Jaylen Brown’s performances in 2020-21 were perhaps overlooked because of the Celtics’ struggles. His late-season injury didn’t help either.

    Brown has come a long way from defence-first rookie. He’s a legitimate threat to score and shoot off-the-bounce and retains supreme athleticism along with defensive nous to guard one through three.

    Jaylen Brown


    5) Khris Middleton

    Can Khris Middleton be the second guy on a title team? Does Giannis need a better co-star in the playoffs?

    Middleton answered those questions. He’s not just an All-Star, he’s an NBA champion, and author of some spectacular playoff performances, including a 40-point night in the NBA Finals.

    His defence can be overshadowed by his All-World teammates. Don’t be mistaken, though. Middleton is well above-average on the defensive end, and he’s become a decent playmaker in the pick-and-roll.

    Khris Middleton


    4) Jimmy Butler

    Last season was a disappointment for the Heat after their run to the Finals. Jimmy Butler, though, was exceptional once he was healthy.

    The best small forwards have to be impactful at both ends. Butler does that. He’s not a knockdown shooter, but he can navigate his way to his spots.

    Any doubts about Butler as a leader and a number one option were crushed in the bubble. Whether you have him as top 15 or top 25, he was an easy choice for number four on this list.

    Jimmy Butler Betting


    3) Paul George

    The 2021-22 season should be a big one for Paul George. The Clippers are depending on a near-MVP campaign from the former Pacer.

    While George has often slotted in at the two in the Clippers’ wing-heavy lineups recently, he’ll likely be at the three for most of this season.

    George stood up in the playoffs after Kawhi Leonard’s injury. He reminded everyone what an elite two-way force he is, and we can expect more of the same this season.

    While the Clippers have so far failed in their ambition to build one of the top NBA dynasties, landing two stars gives them a buffer when one suffers an injury. They will hope to enjoy that benefit in 2021-22.

    Paul George


    2) Kawhi Leonard

    Playing the three in San Antonio and Toronto, Kawhi Leonard has moved up to the four at times for the Clippers. Having Leonard and George on this list is a bit of a contradiction, but both are primarily thought of as small forwards.

    It’s unclear if Kawhi will play at all in 2021-22. Reports have claimed he’s looking good in rehab from his ACL injury, but he’s notoriously cautious with his body, and the condensed schedule doesn’t give him much margin for error.

    Still, once he’s included in this list, there’s nowhere else to put him. He’s a different level from the players behind him.

    Kawhi Leonard


    1) LeBron James

    Like so many players, LeBron James doesn’t slot into a position cleanly. He could be classified as a point guard or power forward, but with Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan on the Lakers roster, LeBron is going to spend a lot of time at the three.

    There’s debate over where James ranks among the league’s best players. With Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo as power forwards, though, there was no doubt he’s the number one small forward right now.

    James prefers the three to the four, and it’s this position his career will be remembered for.

    LeBron

    *Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

    October 21, 2021
    Basketball
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    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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    The 10 Best Power Forwards In NBA (2021/22)

    • There’s a massive range of players when it comes to power forward

    • It’s a position with no shortage of star talent, but where it can be challenging to make direct comparisons

    • We’ve picked our top 10 heading into the 2021/22 NBA season

    The best power forwards in the NBA in 2021/22 are at the forefront of NBA betting.

    We’ve got MVPs and a collection of All-NBA calibre players in our top 10. Our top three are key men for the three title favourites in online betting.

    There are former first overall picks scattered throughout and several All-Stars who have defied perception and expectation to break out in a big way. Here are our 10 best power forwards in the NBA right now…

    10) Tobias Harris

    Tobias Harris doesn’t get the praise he deserves. As is often the case with the third-best player on a contender, they take a lot of blame but not much of the praise.

    Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were both runners up for major awards, and now Simmons is trying to force his way out, resulting in an NBA drama so entertaining it might get picked up by Netflix. Harris just quietly goes about his work.

    There are flaws in his game. He should be more trigger happy from three. He can go missing in the playoffs. The former Clipper is also coming off the most efficient season of his career, and he’s made notable strides on defence.

    Tobias Harris


    9) Julius Randle

    The star of the Knicks’ remarkable 2020-21 season, Julius Randle still has a point to prove coming into 2021-22.

    There was no doubt he deserved Most Improved Player, but his postseason struggles leave some uncertainty about his ability to replicate that campaign.

    Randle’s role on offence will be tweaked with Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier on the team. He shouldn’t have to do as much playmaking, which should help him preserve energy for the back half of the year.

    Julius Randle


    8) Pascal Siakam

    Much maligned over the last year or so, Pascal Siakam has gone from fairy tale story on a title team to an underrated All-Star level talent.

    Toronto’s 2020-21 can effectively be written off given the circumstances the team was in.

    Back playing north of the border, the Raptors and Siakam should bounce back this season. The Cameroonian is one of the better two-way fours in the league.

    Pascal Siakam


    7) Draymond Green

    Draymond Green starred in the most recent of NBA dynasties as a center. Much of his best basketball in 2021-22 will likely come as a five too, but we’re classifying as a power forward for this purpose.

    Green plays the position in a unique way. He’s switchable and elite one through five on defence.

    On offence, he’s not a threat to score, but he’s the conductor of Golden State’s ball movement, which resulted in 8.9 dimes per game last season.

    It’s not a direct comparison between Green and many others listed here, but this feels like the right spot.

    Draymond Green


    6) Zion Williamson

    Onto his third NBA coach already, Zion Williamson is yet to experience much winning in the pros. NBA predictions are almost impossible when it comes to the Pelicans, and part of that is Williamson’s health.

    A foot injury means he’s going to miss the start of the season (again), and conditioning has been a foundation of conversation about the former first overall pick.

    What Zion can do as an offensive force, both scoring inside and creating for others, earns him the six spot, but he’s got a long way to go as a defender and shooter.

    Zion Williamson


    5) Domantas Sabonis

    With Myles Turner injured, Domantas Sabonis spent much of last season as a center.

    He’s always been between the two positions, with Turner’s shooting and rim protection allowing the Lithuanian to play as a five on offence and a four on defence.

    While he’s starting to add the three ball to his offensive arsenal, Sabonis is different to many modern bigs. He’s not a screen and dive finisher, nor is he a pure floor spacer.

    Working on the block to attack smaller defenders and passing from the elbow, he’s the hub of everything the Pacers do on offence.

    Indiana is going to look different this year with Rick Carlisle in charge – only time will tell if Sabonis remains a four long-term.

    Domantas Sabonis


    4) Jayson Tatum

    Often used as a three earlier in his career, Jayson Tatum was almost exclusively a power forward in 2020-21.

    Ime Udoka may use Tatum as a small forward at times this year after Al Horford returned in the offseason, but Tatum is expected to primarily play at the four.

    While last year was disrupted by COVID-19 and general Celtics dysfunction, Tatum still put up career-highs across the board.

    His progress as a playmaker has cemented him among the elite, and Boston will be expecting him to carry a similar burden this season after trading Kemba Walker.

    Jayson Tatum


    3) Anthony Davis

    Much like Sabonis and Green, Anthony Davis’ best basketball comes at the five.

    He’s starting as the power forward for the Lakers once again, though, and will be splitting his minutes between the two positions throughout the regular season.

    Coming off a down year, having once again battled injuries, there’s really no argument for Davis to be any higher than three on this list.

    The Lakers are going to lean heavily on him at the defensive end having lost so many plus defenders in the offseason. It’ll be interesting to see how Frank Vogel utilises Davis on offence too, particularly in non-LeBron minutes.

    Anthony Davis


    2) Kevin Durant

    Even the most optimistic basketball followers didn’t expect Kevin Durant to look like this after his Achilles injury. The Durant we witnessed in 2020-21 was the Durant we saw throughout his years in Oklahoma City and Oakland.

    He almost single-handedly toppled the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the playoffs. The defence remains top tier and opponents have no answer when he gets it going on the offensive end.

    Durant is already in the top 15 of the greatest NBA players of all-time. He could break the top 10 in the next couple of seasons.

    Kevin Durant


    1) Giannis Antetokounmpo

    A two-time MVP and the reigning Finals MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo is not just the best power forward. He’s the best player in the NBA, narrowly beating out Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Steph Curry.

    Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to the title despite a knee injury midway through the playoffs.

    He notched five rejections and scored 50 to clinch Milwaukee’s first championship in 50 years in what is universally acknowledged as one of the all-time great Finals performances.

    There is no comparison for the Greek Freak. He’s a top five defender in the NBA and a truly unstoppable offensive force – there are more MVPs in his future, particularly if the jumper continues to develop.

    Giannis

    *Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

    October 21, 2021
    Basketball
    Body

    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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