By Charlie Parker-Turner (@CParkerTurner)
Embed from Getty ImagesThis week we will be looking at my Top 10 Brighton and Hove Albion goals since promotion to the Premier League. The step up from the Championship a few years ago has showcased to many that the standard of the Premier League is unbelievable and it is clear to see why it is the best league in the world, and in fairness to little old Brighton, we really have held our own and scored some magnificent goals along the way.
10. Aaron Mooy vs Bournemouth (H) – 28/12/19
The first goal in this list comes from Australian central midfielder Aaron Mooy, who was cool, calm and composed in the box to break away from his man and curl it into the far post. The ball in from Leandro Trossard is a key reason this goal warrants a place in the top ten, delicately curling the ball with the outside of his boot on to the chest of the on-running Aussie in what was an inch-perfect pass. The three points that day were much needed for the Albion so the coolness by Mooy to cut inside of Chris Mepham before bending it around the flailing arms of Aaron Ramsdale truly showed the talent of the midfielder.
9. Glenn Murray vs Crystal Palace (A) – 9/3/19
This goal is purely down to the technique of this finish from Glenn Murray, in his 100th league goal in the blue and white stripes of Brighton. A long hoof upfield from captain Lewis Dunk bounced past James Tomkins and into the stride of Murray, where the striker gets his head over the ball and cleanly strikes the ball into the far corner. The technique of the finish justifies the number nine spot in the leaderboard due to how many players would smash that ball into the stands, but instead the now-36-year-old was able to show his class and precisely power the ball past Vicente Guaita and glare into the faces of the disappointed Crystal Palace fans.
8. Pascal Gross vs Manchester United (A) – 19/1/19
Another goal which makes the top ten due to the elegance of the assist, and another goal assisted with an out of the boot chip, this time through Davy Propper. The versatile Dutchman clips the ball over the United defence into Pascal Gross, who does very well to control the ball in a tight space and execute an unstoppable finish from close-range. The finish looks like a stretching stab by Gross, but it is a very clever finish from the German and no keeper would be able to keep it out, smashing the ball in off the underside of the crossbar and past David De Gea. The goal put Brighton back into the game but wasn’t enough to help the Seagulls take any points back to the South Coast after a 2-1 defeat.
7. Glenn Murray vs Manchester United (H) – 19/8/18
Another game against United and yet another well-crafted goal by the Seagulls. This time a through a neat finish from the deadly forward Murray. On the 25 minute mark, Gaetan Bong finds Solly March on the left who fires a low cross into the front-post to Murray, the striker superbly uses the momentum of the cross to flick the ball behind him and over the goalkeeper with the outside of his right-foot. Goalkeeper David De Gea was in top form at the time and arguably single-handedly keeping Jose Mourinho as manager, so to have the cheek to even attempt the shot, let alone score it showed the confidence of Murray. The Seagulls went on to win 3-2 with goals from Shane Duffy and Gross.
6. Jose Izquierdo vs West Ham (A) – 20/10/17
The 2017/18 was the season of Jose Izquierdo wondergoals, the Colombian scored five goals that season and three of them feature on this list. The first of which comes against the Hammers, where the winger picked the ball up around 40 yards from goal before charging at the West Ham defence, jinking past Pedro Obiang and firing a fierce strike into the far corner. The strike was venomous and moving in air, however the pessimistic may say that goalkeeper Joe Hart could have done better considering the former England shot stopper got a hand to it. But, despite that, the goal is nothing less than a beauty and helped the Seagulls gain a massive three points.
5. Jose Izquierdo vs Stoke City (A) – 10/2/18
As DJ Khaled says, “Another one.” Jose Izquierdo features consecutively in this top ten list, this time with a completely different kind of goal: a team goal. The Colombian receives the ball out on the left touchline before driving towards goal and playing a simple pass into Solly March before continuing his run into the box, he then received the ball back from his fellow winger March and plays a first-time 1-2 with Dale Stephens inside the box past another Stoke defender. The tricky forward then wrong-foots then-Chelsea-loanee Kurt Zouma and firing the ball past Jack Butland. The move was a top-quality piece of neat interplay from the Brighton players and was symbolic of the togetherness that side had as they avoided relegation that season. The match somehow finished 1-1 after Maty Ryan saved a last minute Charlie Adam penalty before Lewis Dunk crunched the Scotsman to avoid him tucking away the rebound, the consequent corner then had to be scrambled away by Ryan at his front-post before Anthony Knockaert headed the ball of the line as the Seagulls came within an inch of leaving the Britannia Stadium empty-handed.
4. Florin Andone vs Crystal Palace (H) – 4/12/18
Any goal against your rivals is essentially worth double points when it’s a beauty, so when Florin Andone popped up with a spectacular solo goal against Crystal Palace then there was no doubt it would warrant a spot in the top 5. The Romanian latched onto a clearance from Bernardo and beat James Tomkins in a foot race as he charged in from the left. Tomkins looked to have recovered but the determination of Andone allowed the striker to battle himself back into possession and strike the ball into the far-corner, putting 10-man Brighton 3-0 up at halftime.
3. Jose Izquierdo vs West Ham (H) – 3/2/18
Another screamer from Izquierdo against West Ham, the Hammers must be sick of the sight of the little wizard, especially when he cuts onto that wand of a right foot. A corner is headed clear by Declan Rice, but only as far as the opposite corner of the penalty box, where the Colombian international was waiting. The ex-Brugge forward takes one touch out of his feet before unleashing a perfect strike into the top corner, an unstoppable strike that even two goalkeepers wouldn’t be able to keep out. The whip, angle and precision of the finish would easily justify the top spot, however there are two special goals which duly warrant the same plaudits and respect.
2. Alireza Jahanbakhsh vs Chelsea (H) – 1/1/20
The Iranian winger kickstarted his 2020 in the best possible style with a spectacular effort against Chelsea. The Seagulls £17million-signing did not hit the ground running after his arrival, scoring his first goal of the season only the week before in a win against Bournemouth; but the versatile forward was evidently full of confidence from that goal when attempting this acrobatic shot.
The corner was swung into the box in the 85th minute by Gross in what initially appeared to be an overhit cross, but thankfully Dunk rose highest at the back post to nod the ball back into a hub of blue and black shirts where Jahanbakhsh leapt up and struck a bicycle kick through the bodies and into the far corner, leaving Kepa helpless. Watching the goal first-hand, there was just as much as celebration as there was bewilderment, the Iranian was very much ‘adjusting’ to the league in the early stages of the season and did not look up to the task, so to see him score such a magnificent goal was simply jaw-dropping; even the goal scorer himself looked shocked!
1. Anthony Knockaert vs Crystal Palace (A) – 9/3/19
If you wanted a goal that embodies the old’ trusty football phrase ‘pick that one out’, this is it. Anthony Knockaert touched down a brilliant cross-field pass from Dale Stephens before driving at opposing fullback Patrick Van Aanholt, the Frenchman had only one thing on his mind as he cut inside of the defender and unleashed a rocket of a strike which bounced off of the post and nestled into the top corner perfectly. The ball was hit with such venom and pace that the defenders had no chance to react and it left the goalkeeper with no chance as the balled dipped and swerved brilliantly to put the Albion back in front. The tricky winger could attempt that exact strike 100 times and only once would it be as perfect as that. The description does no justice to the strike and no adjective could describe the elation in the away end at Selhurst Park as Knockaert antagonised the Palace fans with his classic tongue out, staring celebration. Sit back and enjoy.
Thanks for reading/watching and I hope these top-quality Premier League goals scored by the Albion have made you even more excited for the return of football. Make sure to like and retweet the link to the column and let us know your favourite Brighton goal since joining the top-flight.
As ever, stay safe.
