Premier League 2023-24 review: goals of the season

Alejandro Garnacho, Man Utd v Everton

“I can’t believe it,” Garnacho told Sky Sports. “I didn’t see how I scored, I just listened to the sound and thought, ‘Oh my God’. It’s the best goal I’ve scored, of course.” Sometimes it is best to leave the scorer to indicate how good the goal was. What the Argentinian winger is missing out is that he leapt a good five feet in the air with his back to goal, performing an acrobatic overhead kick to send Diogo Dalot’s cross into the top corner. Everyone inside Goodison Park was silenced for a moment; few could believe what they had witnessed. After a second or two, the away end went wild, enjoying one of the few positive moments of Manchester United’s season. Few players even have the audacity to try such things but Garnacho has impeccable technique and youth on his side, making him fearless even in an underperforming team.

Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool v Fulham

There were a collection of thunderous strikes from outside the box that flew past goalkeepers but Mac Allister’s is my pick, for no other reason than I was there. When Raúl Jiménez inadvertently headed the ball down in the Argentinian’s vague direction, few anticipated what was to happen next. Mac Allister had to turn in order to face Bernd Leno’s goal, judge the bouncing ball and then run through a mathematical equation to work out how hard he needed to hit the shot from 30 yards. He performed everything perfectly and watched as the rocket found its target, asking some serious questions of the goal frame joinery in the process. “I think it was the best goal I scored in my life,” Mac Allister said. “Not a bad start to my career there in Liverpool as a goalscorer.” Not bad at all.

Pablo Sarabia, Wolves v Tottenham

The clock had just ticked past 90 minutes when Matheus Cunha chipped the ball into the box. Wolves were a goal down to Spurs at the time and needed a moment of inspiration to turn things around. Sarabia, running at full speed, managed to sublimely control the ball with his right foot and get it at the perfect height to volley with his preferred left – all in one movement – before striking the ball with ferocity into the corner. It was a moment of pure quality from a player in a side that can lack composure in big moments – and things got even better when Mario Lemina scored a 97th-minute winner. Sarabia’s quality enthused his teammates, showing what could be done. It was the Spaniard’s first of the season, a meaningful one after struggling to make a noticeable impact since joining last January, giving him the confidence to become a regular under Gary O’Neil. It was only Spurs’ second defeat of the season and part of an eight-game unbeaten run at home for Wolves.

Bernardo Silva, Man City v Newcastle

Some might argue this was not even the best goal of the match, let alone the season but there are few better methods of scoring than a perfectly-executed and exquisite flick to divert a powerful cross into the net. Kyle Walker provided the ball into the box and Silva delivered, darting towards the front post and cushioning the ball off his instep and into the bottom corner with his back to goal. There was another glorious goal at the end when Oscar Bobb stepped up in injury time, collecting a Kevin De Bruyne beauty over the top and showing quick feet to deceive Martin Dubravka and tap home to win the match. The Norwegian won the goal of the month competition. Maybe its timing and significance took it up a few levels but, ultimately, Silva offered a touch ofbrilliance that we have become accustomed to from the Portuguese genius.

João Pedro, Brighton v Crystal Palace

At 3-1 up against your fiercest rivals and with the match already won, it is nice to add a little bit of gloss and fully confirm who is the superior team. João Pedro knew what he wanted to do once he picked up the ball around 40 yards from the Palace goal, driving forward and looking to play a one-two with Danny Welbeck, in the hope his teammate would be able to find his bursting run into the box. What the Brazilian might not have expected from his fellow striker was for the through ball to be an instinctive reverse pass, hit with the inside of his right foot while off balance, right into the path of Pedro, who calmly slotted past Dean Henderson before wheeling away in celebration. Both Jack Hinshelwood and Carlos Baleba sprinted to congratulate Welbeck on the assist rather than the goalscorer.