Six Goalkeepers Who Have Scored in Premier League History

Goalkeepers are primarily judged by the goals they prevent, but six players have achieved the rare feat of scoring at the other end in Premier League history. From Peter Schmeichel's late strike for Aston Villa in 2001 to Alisson Becker's dramatic winner for Liverpool in 2021, only six goalkeepers have found the net in the competition since its formation in 1992. The Premier League's official records list Schmeichel, Brad Friedel, Paul Robinson, Tim Howard, Asmir Begović and Alisson as the only goalkeepers to have scored in the competition. Here is how each goalkeeper made Premier League history. Peter Schmeichel – Aston Villa Peter Schmeichel became the first goalkeeper to score a Premier League goal when he found the net for Aston Villa against Everton on October 20, 2001. The Danish goalkeeper went forward for a late set piece and volleyed the ball into the Everton net in the 90th minute. Despite Schmeichel's historic effort, Aston Villa lost the match 3-2 at Goodison Park. The goal gave Schmeichel a unique place in Premier League history as the first goalkeeper to score in the competition. Brad Friedel – Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel became the second goalkeeper to score in the Premier League. Friedel scored against Charlton Athletic on February 21, 2004, getting on the scoresheet from close range. However, the goal did not prevent Blackburn from suffering a 3-2 defeat. Friedel went on to enjoy a remarkable Premier League career and holds the competition record for consecutive appearances, having played 310 successive matches between August 2004 and October 2012. Paul Robinson – Tottenham Hotspur Paul Robinson produced one of the most memorable goalkeeper goals in Premier League history. The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper scored against Watford on March 17, 2007, with a free-kick taken from deep inside his own half. Robinson's effort travelled over Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster and bounced into the net as Tottenham won 3-1. The goal was unusual because Robinson did not need to enter the opposition penalty area. His long-range free-kick made him the first Tottenham goalkeeper to score in the Premier League, a record that still stands. Tim Howard – Everton Everton's Tim Howard became the fourth goalkeeper to score in the Premier League when his long clearance found the net against Bolton Wanderers on January 4, 2012. Howard's kick travelled from his own half and was carried forward by the conditions before going over Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan. The American goalkeeper's extraordinary goal was not enough to earn Everton a result, however, as Bolton eventually won 2-1. Howard's goal remains one of the clearest examples of how an ordinary goalkeeper's clearance can turn into an unexpected goal. Asmir Begović – Stoke City Asmir Begović joined the exclusive group in spectacular fashion for Stoke City against Southampton on November 2, 2013. Just 13 seconds after the match began, Begović launched a long clearance that travelled almost the entire length of the pitch. The ball bounced over Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc and into the net. The goal came extraordinarily early but did not produce a winner. Southampton eventually equalised and the match ended 1-1. Begović's effort remains one of the most unusual goalkeeper goals in Premier League history. The Premier League lists him as the fifth goalkeeper to score in the competition. Alisson Becker – Liverpool Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker became the sixth and most recent goalkeeper to score in the Premier League. His historic moment came on May 16, 2021, when Liverpool travelled to face West Bromwich Albion. With Liverpool pushing for Champions League qualification, Alisson moved forward for a corner in the fifth minute of stoppage time. He met Trent Alexander-Arnold's delivery with a header and sent the ball beyond goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to give Liverpool a dramatic 2-1 victory. The goal was significant for Liverpool's season and for Alisson personally. The Brazilian became the first goalkeeper to score a headed goal in Premier League history and the first goalkeeper to score a winning goal in the competition. Six goalkeepers, six remarkable goals The six goals have come in very different circumstances. Schmeichel and Friedel scored while joining attacks late in matches, Robinson found the net from a free-kick, while Howard and Begović scored with long-range kicks that unexpectedly travelled into the opposition goal. Alisson's goal was different again, with the Liverpool goalkeeper deliberately joining an attacking set piece before producing a decisive header. The Premier League's official records continue to list the six players as the only goalkeepers to have scored in the competition: Schmeichel, Friedel, Robinson, Howard, Begović and Alisson. For players whose primary responsibility is stopping goals, scoring even once is an extraordinary achievement. These six goalkeepers have therefore earned a permanent place in Premier League history for moments that were as unexpected as they were memorable.