Premier League

SPARE a thought for Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, if you will. On Saturday’s Match of the Day, Gary Lineker described Olise’s stunning strike in his team’s defeat at Luton, as a “Goal of the Season” contender.
Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho netted the best goal in Premier League history, in Sun Chief Sports Writer Dave Kidd’s opinionCredit: Reuters
Michael Olise thought he scored the goal of the season just a day before Garnacho’s belterCredit: PA
A few hours later, Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho did his wondrous thing and suddenly Olise had not even scored the goal of the weekend. 
The question now is whether Garnacho’s magnificent bicycle kick against Everton was the greatest of the 32,000 goals ever scored in the Premier League. 
And like all good bar-room debates, there is no correct answer, merely an excuse for another pint to lubricate the argument further. 
There is always a temptation to instantly crown something so wonderful as the “greatest of all time”.
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But in the cold light of the following day, Garnacho’s banger truly stands up as possibly the worldiest of all worldies. 
As a like-for-like bicycle kick, it was technically better than Wayne Rooney’s famous strike against Manchester City in 2011. 
I was at that Old Trafford derby and Rooney’s effort certainly possessed the fundamental quality of the truly great goal.
That’s the “F*** me!” factor which forces everybody inside the stadium to utter an expletive and damn their own eyes for deceiving them. 
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But Garnacho’s was better. There is the extra dimension of difficulty involved in the Argentine needing to back-pedal in order to meet the flight of Diogo Dalot’s cross. 
The splendour of the technique is key.
And if context matters, then the timing of that third-minute goal, in a Goodison Park stadium gripped by the unique fury of a Premier League club having just been stripped of ten points, makes it more special too. 
United, bang-average all season, had been widely expected to melt in a cauldron of hate.
But with beauty in the eye of the beholder, what makes a truly great goal, when there are so many different varieties? 
Pep Guardiola or Arsene Wenger would probably argue for outstanding team efforts – perhaps so that they, as coaches, might claim an “assist”.
And the build-up to Garnacho’s strike, including a cross-field Hollywood pass from Victor Lindelof, was none too shabby either.
A more straightforward thunderous volley can look just as good as a bicycle kick. 
Consider the balletic grace of Paolo Di Canio’s masterpiece against Wimbledon and the ferocity of Tony Yeboah’s strike against Liverpool – accentuated by the ball crashing in off the underside of the bar. 
Paolo Di Canio’s scissor kick volley is one of the best Prem strikes of all-timeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Both of those make my personal top ten Premier League goals list, although by tomorrow I might have changed my mind and included the Paul Scholes howitzer against Bradford or other renowned beauties from Matt Le Tissier or the late Dalian Atkinson.   
Others might prefer the spectacle of an individual dribble – Diego Maradona in the Azteca, Ricky Villa at Wembley, Ryan Giggs at Villa Park – although I can’t think of a Premier League effort to quite compare with those three, which all settled huge matches. 
Some will canvas for the subtlety of Dennis Bergkamp or the long-range audacity of David Beckham. 
The best goal I’ve seen live was by Mario Mandzukic for Juventus against Real Madrid in the 2017 Champions League final.
The brilliance of the Croat’s finish was allied to exceptional teamwork, with the ball passed between four players without touching the ground. It is a thing of utter majesty. 
But does it matter that Juve lost 4-1? I don’t think so but let’s have another pint and we can argue the toss about that.  
The greatest Premier League goal I’ve seen live was by Fulham’s Pajtim Kasami at Crystal Palace in 2013 – the Swiss winger chests the ball near the touchline, swivels and volleys into the far corner from a range and angle which defies mathematics. 
Yet it wasn’t even Match of the Day’s Goal of the Month – an Arsenal passing move finished by Jack Wilshere that October would end up as Goal of the Season.
Oh and Kasami wasn’t all that good. The Swiss winger scored only three times in 38 games for Fulham, so you can argue his finest moment was a fluke.  
In a recent conversation with Lineker – who knows a thing or two about goalscoring – he told me Real Madrid’s Mexican maestro Hugo Sanchez used to score five or six bicycle kicks a season. 
There’s an argument there about whether there is a freakish element in most such goals.
Lineker suggests Sanchez scored them so frequently that his goals could never be considered happy accidents.
So might Garnacho’s strike have ended up in Row Z? Perhaps, but it didn’t, so who cares?
Anyway, fancy another pint?    
Dave Kidd’s top ten Premier League goals
1. Alejandro Garnacho, Man Utd v Everton, 2023
Garnacho showed outrageous technique with his bicycle kickCredit: PA
It flew into the top corner past Jordan PickfordCredit: Reuters

2. Paolo Di Canio, West Ham v Wimbledon, 2000 
Di Canio scored an incredible scissor kick for West HamCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty

3. Pajtim Kasami, Fulham v Crystal Palace, 2013
Pajtim Kasami’s control and dipping volley was a surprising worldieCredit: Getty Images – Getty

4. Tony Yeboah, Leeds v Liverpool, 1995
Tony Yeboah’s thunderbolt crashed down off the crossbar and into the netCredit: Action Images – Reuters

5. Dennis Bergkamp, Arsenal v Newcastle, 2002 
Dennis Bergkamp first touch spun the ball round Nikos Dabizas before he finishedCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

6. David Beckham, Man Utd v Wimbledon, 1996 
David Beckham lobbed the keeper from inside his own half to announce himselfCredit: Action Images – Reuters

7. Thierry Henry, Arsenal v Man Utd, 2000 
Thierry Henry’s flick and volley left his France team-mate Fabien Barthez helplessCredit: Sky Sports

8. Wayne Rooney, Man Utd v Man City, 2011
Rooney’s overhead kick in the Manchester derby was the best Premier League bicycle kick by a United player – until it was bettered by GarnachoCredit: Getty – Contributor

9. Bernardo Silva, Man City v Aston Villa, 2021
Bernardo Silva volleyed in a brilliant Man City counter attack, a superb team goalCredit: AFP

10. Matt Taylor, Portsmouth v Everton, 2006
Matt Taylor walloped it over the keeper with a stunning effort from the halfway lineCredit: AP:Associated Press

Alejandro Garnacho comes out on top in Dave Kidd’s top ten More

THE Premier League 2023 calendar year table reveals Aston Villa would bag a top-four spot while Chelsea flirt with relegation.With one-month of football action remaining this year, clubs are already turning their attention to the January transfer window.
Chelsea’s struggles in 2023 see them finish 15th across the calendar yearCredit: Getty
Aston Villa have snatched a Champions League spotCredit: Getty
At the beginning of 2023, Chelsea recruited Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk.
It was supposed to herald an upturn in fortunes for the Blues but actually things took a turn for the worse as they had one of their lowest finishes to date.
With only eight league wins in 2023 and four different managers, Chelsea failed to finish in the top half of the table last term in 12th.
The last time they failed to finish in the top ten was the 1995-96 season and their worst performance before that was in the 14th spot in the 1993-94 campaign.
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And it looks like the West London club’s perpetual struggles have continued.
According to the 2023 calendar year table the biggest shock is Chelsea’s 15th-placed position – having picked up 36 points from 36 games.
The Blues sit behind Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace who have both collected 38 points in 35 games.
Meanwhile, the top four reflect a slightly different standing to what we saw at the end of the 2022-23 season.
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Top spot is unsurprisingly taken by Manchester City (82pts) followed by Arsenal (71pts), Aston Villa (71pts) and Liverpool (67pts).
Last term’s top four finishers Manchester United and Newcastle are bumped down to fifth and sixth respectively.
Unai Emery’s side have had a terrific start this season with nine wins and an unbeaten home record.
And Jurgen Klopp’s side surprisingly has the same amount of points as Erik ten Hag’s squad who have struggled in the opening months of the current campaign.
But what is even more astounding is United are seven points ahead of Eddie Howe’s top-notch Magpies.
Despite Ange Postecoglou’s high-flying start to life at Tottenham, they sit eighth in the table.
However, for Chelsea excluding the six teams who got promoted or relegated, they sit 15th out of 17 teams.
After Mauricio Pochettino’s side, Everton and Bournemouth sit just one point below in the table.
Then Leicester, Leeds and Southampton are all closely ahead of the current bunch of former Championship sides Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley. More

MARKUS SOLBAKKEN has plenty to thank his dad for – especially after making his senior Norway debut.The 23-year-old midfielder played in the 6-0 international friendly thumping of Jordan in September.
Stale Solbakken had a brief and forgettable spell at WimbledonCredit: Alamy
Markus Solbakken made his Norway debut in 2023 after coming through the international youth ranksCredit: Getty
Solbakken started on the bench alongside unused sub Erling Haaland before his dad and national team boss Stale Solbakken brought him on in a special family moment. 
Solbakken Sr took over as Norway boss in December 2020 and has the likes of Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Erik Thorstvedt’s son Kristian at his disposal.
Though they narrowly missed out on Euro 2024 qualification, the young exciting team will be hoping to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
And this all comes after Stale was pronounced dead when his heart stopped beating for seven minutes in 2001.
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The former midfielder was playing for Copenhagen in the 2000-01 season, helping the giants win the Danish league title.
But in the March, he suffered a heart attack during training – prompting the club doctor to administer emergency first aid and telling a player to call for an ambulance.
It appeared to be too late, though, when he was declared dead – before paramedics managed to resuscitate Solbakken after nearly seven minutes in the ambulance on the way to hospital. 
The scary incident thankfully did not claim his life as he made a full recovery and had a pacemaker fitted.
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But it did bring Solbakken’s playing career to an early end after 12 years as a senior pro – including a forgettable six months in the Premier League. 
He started out with Hamarkameratene – aka HamKam – in Norway before joining Lillestrom.
But in October 1997, Solbakken left his homeland when Wimbledon paid £250,000 for him.
However, he made just six Premier League appearances and scored once before being banned from the club following a spat with manager Joe Kinnear.
And in March 1998, Solbakken was sold back to Norway, where he became Aalborg BK captain and led the team to the league title in 1998-99 before switching to rivals Copenhagen in 2000.
On the international stage, the midfielder racked up 58 caps – scoring nine – and featured for his country at both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. 
He earned 58 caps, playing for his country at the World Cup and EurosCredit: Empics
The midfielder was forced to retire early due to a heart attackCredit: Allsport
Like his son, Solbakken was a midfielder and wore the No8Credit: Allsport
Solbakken immediately and successfully stepped into coaching, initially with HamKam and then Copenhagen.
Two brief, failed spells at FC Koln and Wolves followed before he returned to Copenhagen, taking his title tally as a manager up to eight – plus four Danish Cups. 
And now he gets to work with his son on the international stage.
Like his old man, 2000-born Markus made his breakthrough at HamKam – coming through the academy to make more than 100 league appearances between 2016 and 2020. 
Solbakken Jr then made his top-flight debut with Stabaek but their relegation in 2021 prompted another transfer, this time to Viking where the No8 is a regular starter as the Stavanger-based side chase European qualification. 
For Norway, he was consistently part of the youth set-up from Norway Under-16s right through to U21s before impressing his father enough to get a shot in the senior team.
Solbakken Jr, centre, made his debut against Jordan this yearCredit: PA
Solbakken Jr joined Viking in 2022 following relegation with StabaekCredit: PA
Solbakken Sr is the Norway national team managerCredit: Kenny Ramsay
The manager has Erling Haaland as the star man in his teamCredit: Getty More

THIS Premier League legend has just made his professional ice hockey debut.That’s despite being 41 years old.
Former Chelsea and Arsenal goalie Petr Cech made his pro ice hockey debut on SaturdayCredit: X/officialEIHL
Cech came on for top-level champions Belfast Giants as a goaltenderCredit: Reuters
Petr Cech is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history after starring for 11 seasons at Chelsea.
He played 494 games for the Londoners during their golden era under Roman Abramovich.
And Cech lifted four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, a Europa League and a Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Cech then spent four seasons starring for rivals Arsenal, where he won an FA Cup before retiring in 2019.
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After hanging up his boots, he returned to Chelsea as technical director and saw his old side land yet another Champions League title.
However, Cech also kept active during this time by taking up ice hockey.
Following his Arsenal exit, he signed up with amateur side Guildford Phoenix in the fourth tier of British hockey as a goaltender.
In 2022 he moved up a league with the Chelmsford Chieftains.
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Cech made a big save as he got five minutes on the iceCredit: X/officialEIHL
Cech is best remembered by football fans for his trophies at ChelseaCredit: Getty
And in June he penned a deal with rivals Oxford City Stars.
But earlier this month, Cech finally got his big break in the top pro flight after being snapped up by the Elite Ice Hockey League champions Belfast Giants.
And he was handed a glittering professional debut at the age of 41 during Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Glasgow Clan.
Getting five minutes off the bench, Cech pulled off a fine save as the result helped Giants leapfrog their rivals into fifth place.
And fans aren’t surprised he’s doing the business in a second sport after lighting up the beautiful game for so many years. 
One said: “It’s been awesome to watch his (second) career.”
Another declared: “How awesome is this?”
One noted: “Loved him as a soccer goalie.”
Another added: “What a legend.” More

JOHN TERRY has revealed how Rafa Benitez tried to get him booted out of Chelsea after the Spaniard was appointed interim manager in November 2012.The Blues legend said Benitez even went to then-owner Roman Abramovich and told him the centreback was “finished” at Stamford Bridge.
John Terry revealed how Rafa Benitez tried to get him axed from ChelseaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Terry said he got ‘goosebumps’ when he heard Jose Mourinho was returning in 2013Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Benitez – who was a shock choice to take over from Roberto Di Matteo – lasted just six months at Stamford Bridge, regularly leaving club captain Terry on the bench during his spell in charge. 
In Ellie Collins’ YouTube show You Free Friday?, Terry tells how the return of Jose Mourinho to Chelsea the following season proved Benitez totally wrong.
The Blues won the title in 2014-15 and the centre-back was an ever-present.
Terry said: “The year before Benitez was in charge and he actually tried to get me out of the football club at the time.
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“So Rafa tried to tell the owners I couldn’t play two games a week. I had a year left on my contract and I was finished.
“I was in Portugal at the time, and Mourinho called me and said ‘JT, I’m coming back’. It was just goosebumps.
“He said ‘They’ve all been telling me you’re finished – you’re my captain, but we’re going back and we’re going to win the league’. It’s actually quite emotional.
“When he said it to me, I was like ‘ wow, that’s powerful, it’s me and you against the world again, let’s go again’. Because that’s the mentality he brought before.”
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The 2011/12 season saw Chelsea win the Champions League for the first time, with Terry playing in eight of the side’s 13 games.
But the arrival of Benitez saw Terry dropped for much of the 2012/13 season.
He did score a vital goal in the second leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie against Steaua Bucharest, a game Chelsea won 3-1.
Chelsea won the trophy against Benfica in the final, with Benitez leaving at the end of that season.
The return of Mourinho in 2013 saw Terry back in the starting line-up, and in 2015 he helped the club to the Premier League title, their first for five years.
Terry revealed he was sharing a bottle of wine with his wife Toni when he got the news from Mourinho about his comeback.
He added: “We were halfway through it, but then it was ‘ I’m not drinking, that’s it’.
“I woke up the following day and for the rest of the holiday, the next ten days, I was running morning, afternoon and night.
“I went back so fit, we won the league and I played every minute of every game.
“It was pretty special and a big two fingers up to a lot of people who had written me off at the time. Again that man believed in me more than anyone.” More

A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted the final Premier League table and it is still not good reading for Manchester United.After a slow start to the season the Red Devils have won their last three domestic games and not conceded a goal in the process.
Alejandro Garnacho scored a stunning bicycle kick against EvertonCredit: PA
Kai Havertz’s goal moved Arsenal top of the leagueCredit: Alamy
Yesterday’s 3-0 victory over Everton saw Man Utd climb to sixth in the table and they are now just four points off the top four.
But the numbers have been crunched by Bettingexpert’s supercomputer BETSiE and its algorithm thinks Erik ten Hag’s side will still have a disappointing season.
They predict that United will finish behind Chelsea in eighth place.
Kai Havertz’s late winner away at Brentford moved Arsenal to the top of the table after closest rivals Manchester City and Liverpool shared the spoils 1-1.
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The Gunners are now one point clear at the summit of the Premier League.
But the supercomputer believes they will narrowly miss out on the title again as Man City are still expected to finish first with Arsenal in second.

Liverpool and Newcastle complete the top four while Aston Villa are set to come fifth.
Tottenham enjoyed a stunning start to the season but following three defeats in a row, Ange Postecoglou’s men are not predicted to rediscover top form and sixth looks most likely for them.
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Here is how the final Premier League table may look come May
Towards the bottom of the table, Everton are predicted to have enough to stay up despite their ten-point deduction for breaching financial fair play rules.
Meanwhile, Luton secured a huge 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, which was their first at Kenilworth Road since promotion.
A four point gap has formed between Rob Edwards’ side and the drop zone yet relegation remains expected.
Sheffield United and Burnley are also heading straight back into the Championship, according to the supercomputer. More

MANCHESTER UNITED fans are convinced they’re pinpointed the reason behind Marcus Rashford ending his barren run in front of goal.The England star, 26, had hit the target just once for United this season before yesterday’s 3-0 win at Everton, when he netted against Arsenal way back at the start of September.
Fans reckon they know why Marcus Rashford has returned to form for Man UtdCredit: Getty
The ace’s penalty helped United beat Everton 3-0Credit: PA
Rashford doubled his tally for the term with a clinical penalty.
And his generally impressive gameplay on the right wing was key in helping United rack up another victory.
Rashford will now be hoping he can kick on after netting 30 goals in all competitions last season.
But fans reckon they know why he bounced back against Everton with aplomb.
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SunSport exclusively revealed on Saturday that Rashford enjoyed a romantic date at a posh restaurant with ex-partner Lucia Loi.
The childhood sweethearts sparked rumours that they are back together after Rashford booked out the cellar of a French wine bar in Manchester that normally seats 18.
And supporters believe Rashford’s reunion with his former flame has sparked his season into life.
One said: “Rashford fresh trim and got his girl back, he’s gonna be back to his best now.”
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SunSport exclusively revealed Rashford’s dinner date with ex Lucia LoiCredit: Getty
The meeting sparked rumours they are back togetherCredit: Getty
Another declared: “Rashford back with his girl and back on the scoresheet.”
One noted: “Rashford back with his girl? The season starts NOW.”
Another tweeted: “Rashford back with his girl, Rashford scores. Coincidence? I think not.”
One wrote: “Rashford better marry that girl.”
Another added: “Can Rashford just get married to that girl? We need this confidence every week.”
Rashford and Lucia are childhood sweetheartsCredit: https://www.instagram.com/lucialoi/
Fans are convinced Lucia has helped Rashford rediscover his confidenceCredit: https://www.instagram.com/lucialoi/?hl=en More

BRUNO FERNANDES delivered a brutal seven-word snub as he handed the Man of the Match award to Alejandro Garnacho.The Manchester United captain told the 19-year-old he did “not deserve” the prize after their 3-0 victory against Everton on Sunday.
Bruno Fernandes blasted Alejandro Garnacho as he handed him the MOTM award
Garnacho displayed a sensational bicycle kick in United’s 3-0 win against EvertonCredit: Getty
With a sensational bicycle kick in the third minute, Garnacho opened up the scoring for the Red Devils.
United then held onto their lead until halftime as the Toffees tried to even the score.
Then early into the second half, Marcus Rashford’s penalty followed by Anthony Martial’s goal secured the victory for Erik ten Hag’s side.
For his spectacular goal, Garnacho was handed the MOTM award however Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville suggested Kobbie Mainoo deserved the honour after his remarkable midfielding.
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And when Fernandes was asked to present the Argentina international with the trophy he jokingly said: “I don’t think he deserves but okay.”
The Portuguese ace then continued to speak about the winger’s performance and added: “I’ll give him a good note just for the goal.
“But that’s because he knows I have big expectations for him.
“He’s not a great player yet, but he has a big future ahead. We expect a lot from him.
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“He knows that, even more from me. I’ll always be behind him asking for more. Amazing goal though.”
In a separate interview for BBC’s Match of the Day Fernandes then had his say on Mainoo’s display.
He said: “Great game, for me man of the match, a great performance and secure on the ball and never puts a foot wrong.
“He is always ready to help, for his age he has too much quality.
“He sees the play before and did so many good things today he was secure on the ball.”
The 18-year-old midfielder put on an all-round display at Goodison Park.
Supporters raved over Mainoo’s incredible “maturity” for a player so young and in a Premier League clash so frenetic.
The England Under-19 starlet only returned just over a month ago to training following a pre-season injury.
Fernandes suggested Kobbie Mainoo should have won the awardCredit: Alamy More