The greatest ever lobs in Premier League football
A perfect lob shot that leaves the keeper watching helplessly as it sails over his head and into the back of the net must be one of the most satisfying ways to score in Premier League football and some of the greatest ever players to grace the division have left their mark in this manner.
Che Adams spectacular lob against Man City last night was worthy of winning any game of football but how does it rate in comparison to some of the greats that we have seen throughout the Premier League era?
Eric Cantona v Sunderland 1996
Cantona was the original superstar of the Premier League as petulant as he was brilliant but only a player with that kind of mindset could even contemplate this goal let alone have the talent to pull it off. This remains one of the greatest ever goals in Premier League history as well as one of its most iconic celebrations as Cantona just stands there with his trademark collar-up allowing all to survey his majesty!
Dalian Atkinson v Wimbledon 1992
If you thought Cantona's effort was good, how about this wonder goal from Dalian Atkinson from all the way back in the Premier League's inaugural season? To run from your own half in such a manner takes talent but to have come so far and still have the presence of mind to finish like that is what makes this such a special goal. It was deservedly awarded the first-ever Premier League goal of the season. In later life, Atkinson suffered from mental health problems and saw tragically killed by a police taser after arriving at his father's house and threatening to kill him.
Matt Le Tissier v Manchester United 1996
You'd do well to find a Matt Le Tissier goal that wasn't a worldy but this effort against Manchester United must be one of his finest. It helped inspire his team to one of the most famous wins in Premier League history, 6-3 against the side that dominated the first division in the 1990s. Playing at the old Dell Stadium, Le Tissier's Southampton were very much the nemesis of this great United side who lost there 3 seasons on the trot between 1996-1998.
Gianfranco Zola v Everton 2003
Zola helped to take Chelsea and arguably English football to a new level after his arrival at Stamford Bridge. The little magician scored many memorable goals and this one was not only special but his last in a Chelsea shirt! What a way to go!
Daniel Sturridge v West Brom 2013
A natural goal scorer who never quite found his place at any of the big clubs he played at. This spell with Liverpool was probably the closest he ever came to fulfilling that talent and this goal is a perfect example of those predatory instincts mixed with excellent technique.
Yossi Benayoun v Fulham 2006
Here's a blast from the past! Benayoun was brilliant for West Ham before moving onto Liverpool and eventually Arsenal where he struggled to command a first-team place. However, it was the technique and creativity in and around the box demonstrated in the lob below that caught the eye of those big clubs in the first place.
Luis Suarez v Norwich 2012
Of all the goals on this list, Suarez's effort is probably the closest in style to that of Che Adam's last night. One of the best overseas strikers to have played in the modern era of the Premier League. I always thought it was a bit of shame he went to play in a league that doesn't appreciate out and out strikers in quite the same way that we do here. However, this chip over the keeper is evidence that Suarez could score goals from pretty much anywhere on the pitch.
Paul Merson v Everton 2000
These days Merson is better known as a bumbling commentator on Sky Sports but back in the day he was about as silky skilled a player as England could produce (which is perhaps not saying much in the 1990s). This goal came very late on in his career during a less fruitful spell with Villa and the sumptuous chip is still considered one of the clubs all-time best Premier League goals.
David Beckham v Wimbledon 1996
Fancy becoming a multi-millionaire, a global icon on and off the field and shagging a Spice Girl? Well, then you better announce yourself to the world with a goal like this! David Beckham was very much in the infancy of his career when he lobbed Neil Sulivan from the half-way line but from here on out the only way was up as became one of the most recognisable faces on the planet let alone the Premier League. When you consider that there was no such thing as a 'viral video' at this time the impact that this goal made was incredible. Everybody saw it and everybody was talking about it - Golden Balls had been born!
Phillipe Albert v Manchester United 1996
Producing the perfect lob needn't be the sole domain of strikers or silky skilled midfielders. Here representing for the defenders is Belgium's Phillipe Albert who adds the ultimate cherry to the icing with this wonderful chip over Schmeichel to make it 5-0 to Newcastle. That's the 2nd time Schmeichel features on this list but perhaps it's testament to how good a goalkeeper he was that you needed to score a spectacular goal to get it past him! It's also the 4th sublime lob on this list from 1996 when this particular style of finish appears to have been very much in vogue!
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Which are your favourite lobs?
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