After such a great build up to the opening weekend of the Premier League season, it certainly did not disappoint in terms of excitement, tension, and perhaps most importantly great goals. There were some absolute stunners to kick-start 2015-16, and Outside90’s Harvey Stevens gives a rundown of our top five.
5. Odion Ighalo (Everton vs Watford)
A goal which Watford thought had won them the game, Odion Ighalo introduced himself to the Premier League in true style. After scoring 20 in the second tier last term, the substitute came on with the scores tied against Everton at 1-1. As the Hornets counter-attacked, the ball found Ighalo, who cut inside and sat two defenders down on the floor, before fizzing a strike past Tim Howard and into the bottom corner. It was a superb finish by the Nigerian in the last 10 minutes of the game, and it could have been the winner if it had not of been for Arouna Kone’s late equaliser.
4. Mauro Zarate (Arsenal vs West Ham)
Nothing could have shocked Arsenal more than an opening day defeat at the hands of West Ham at the Emirates. After an impressive Community Shield victory the week before, hopes and expectations were high for the Gunners, and even when Cheikhou Kouyate headed the Hammers in front in the first half, Arsenal were expected to turn it around. After the break though, former outcast Mauro Zarate picked the ball up 25-yards out and beat Petr Cech at the near post. Although the shot should have been stopped by the ex-Chelsea keeper, West Ham found themselves 2-0 up at the Emirates, thanks to a sweet strike by the Argentinian.
3. Yaya Toure (West Brom vs Manchester City)
A sublime goal to make it 2-0, Yaya Toure followed up his opener at the Hawthorns with a delictable curing effort into the top corner. In the first Monday night fixture of the season, Manchester City stamped their authority with a 3-0 victory over Tony Pulis’ West Brom side. After a deflected effort from the Ivorian put the Sky Blue’s ahead after nine minutes, he followed it up with a superb second from 20-yards out after a one-two with Wilfried Bony, just 15 minutes later.
2. Ross Barkley (Everton vs Watford)
Ross Barkley’s rocket on Saturday could just as likely have been number one on this week’s selection. Everton were rocked when Miguel Layun put Watford ahead in the 14th minute, only for Barkley’s wonder strike to leave Heurelho Gomes clutching at thin air. As the cross came in, striker Arouna Kone killed the pace off the ball when laying it off to his English teammate, who stuck the ball first time straight into the top corner. One of the hardest hit footballs of the weekend, Barkley’s goal was very close to snatching top spot.
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1. Phillipe Coutinho (Stoke vs Liverpool)
It had to be something special to beat Barkley’s effort, and it surely was. Back at the place where Liverpool were humiliated in May, this game needed some magic to light it up at the death. The strike followed an awfully boring 86 minutes, but the torture was worth it for the beautiful finish that Coutinho came out with. After taking the ball and turning past Steve Sidwell, he cut inside onto his right-foot, before letting out a monstrous shot into the top corner, leaving Jack Butland able to get only a fingertip to it. Superb work from Coutinho, that deservedly takes out top honours in the opening’s weeks selection of top goals.
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