Alisson and six goalkeepers who have scored in the Premier League

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 22 May 2021 08:55 BST
• 4 min read

At the weekend Liverpool kept their top four hopes alive by defeating West Brom 2-1 away from home, with goalkeeper Alisson miraculously emerging as the match winner with a last minute header.

Even if you aren’t a Liverpool fan, it was a heartwarming moment for most as the Brazilian pointed to the sky and dedicated the goal to his father, who passed away earlier this year.

It is one of the rarest and most exhilarating moments in football when a goalkeeper finds the back of the net, as it usually comes in the last minute and is a vital goal for their team.

In the history of the Premier League, there have only been six men between the sticks to score at the other end of the pitch.

Which goalkeepers have scored in the Premier League?

Peter Schmeichel – Everton v ASTON VILLA, 2001

Peter Schmeichel was the first goalkeeper to score in the Premier League. In 2001 Aston Villa were trailing Everton 3-1 at Goodison Park when the Dane decided to go up to help out during a corner kick.

Following the delivery from Steve Staunton, Schmeichel latched on to a loose ball at the back post to squeeze a volley home into the roof of the net before sprinting back to his own goal. Unfortunately for him, it would be no more than a consolation as Everton held out for the 3-2 victory.

Brad Friedel – Charlton v BLACKBURN, 2004

Schmeichel’s goal may have been a consolation, but it was nowhere near as disheartening than Brad Friedel’s injury time strike for Blackburn against Charlton in 2004.

With Blackburn trailing 2-1, Friedel went up for a corner and scored via a quite brilliant centre-forward-esque finish into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.

However, it would eventually mean nothing as Charlton would reclaim the lead a few minutes later to win 3-2.

Paul Robinson – TOTTENHAM v Watford, 2007

Tottenham were already leading Watford 1-0 in a Premier League clash between the sides 14 years ago. Just after the hour mark Spurs were given a free-kick deep inside their own half – deep enough that it would be taken by the goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

The England shot-stopper stepped up to fire a clearance straight up into the danger area, and due to a miscommunication between Danny Shittu and Ben Foster, the ball took a wicked bounce and ended up looping over the head of the Watford keeper into the back of the net.

Spurs would go on to win that one 3-1.

Tim Howard – EVERTON v Bolton, 2012

The curse of the goalkeeper’s goal continues here as we have another example of a keeper who scored only to end up being on the losing side.

Sixty-two minutes into a match between Everton and Bolton in 2012, Tim Howard launched a clearance almost the length of the pitch.

Wicked winds, and a wicked bounce, sent the ball up and over the head of Adam Bogdan, with the situation being so odd that Howard refused to celebrate. Lucky for him, too, as Bolton would end up winning 2-1.

Asmir Begovic – STOKE v Southampton, 2013

Another example of the goalkeeper’s union here as Asmir Begovic refused to celebrate and actually looked relatively angered as his sweeping clearance bounced straight over the head of his counterpart Artur Boruc in 2013.

This one came just 13 seconds in and you can tell, as the Southampton defence failed to organise themselves to deal with the long ball up top.

Boruc was the one left looking silly, but he really wasn’t helped out by his defence who should have dealt with the clearance.

Alisson – West Brom v LIVERPOOL, 2021

Potentially the most important goal on this list as it has potential ramifications for Champions League qualification.

In the 95th minute against West Brom no less, Alisson ran up to the other end of the field and sent a quite fantastic glancing header into the right corner following a corner kick.

This was, undoubtedly, the best goal ever scored by a goalkeeper in the Premier League as he showed technique on his header worthy of a number nine.