GOAL OF THE WEEK: Son and Praet strikes stand out in record goal-filled EPL matchweek

By Noah Tan

With a record 44 goals scored across 10 matches this past weekend in the English Premier League (EPL), it was a struggle to narrow down the top-five goals of the matchweek.

After all, there were all sorts of goals this weekend – scrappy goals, powerful headers, thunderbolts, free-flowing team moves, and even a Kepa error thrown in for good measure.

It was difficult, and it took some time, but that’s what I’m getting underpaid to do. So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my top-five goals of the week.

Son Heung-Min finishes off a sweet Spurs counter-attack

We are all aware of the quality of Son Heung-Min. Even I, an Arsenal fan, can recognise that he is something special. There’s nothing surprising about Son’s finish for the first of his four goals against Southampton, even if it came from a rather tight angle.

No, what was truly surprising was the build-up to the goal. Who knew Spurs could counter-attack in such devastating fashion? It all started from Tanguy Ndombele in the centre of the pitch, who brilliantly shielded the ball from two Saints players – an endeavour for which he was rewarded with a break for the whole of the second half – before playing it to Harry Kane on the left.

Kane, after ascertaining that Son was not Raheem Sterling, played the ball first time to the South Korean, who raced onto it and finished emphatically. The goal, which helped Spurs draw level at 1-1 at half-time, arguably gave Jose Mourinho’s men the impetus to go on and win the game 5-2.

Grady Diangana plays catch me if you can with Everton and wins

Remember that Thierry Henry goal? You know, the one which saw him race from deep in his own half, beat three players, before slotting the ball into the bottom corner? The one against Spurs? Yeah, you know the one.

Well, Diangana did a fine impression of that goal against Everton, albeit without actually having to dribble past any defenders, with the Toffees’ backline seemingly content to let him run unopposed to the edge of the penalty box. There, all Diangana had to do was pick his spot, and his left-footed into the bottom corner was inch-perfect.

A great solo goal all round – just don’t expect his celebration to be turned into a statue.

Matheus Pereira rifles home the first brilliant free kick of the season

Yes, I know it’s strange to have two West Brom players in this list considering they lost 5-2 to Everton. But you can’t deny that Diangana’s solo goal deserves to be on this. And I’d fight anyone who dare says that Pereira’s free-kick against the Toffees is not a worthy contender either.

From about 30 yards out, the 24-year-old expertly struck the ball with his left foot and curled it into the top corner, leaving Pickford grasping at thin air.

Phil Foden gets the credit for a Man City team goal

Okay, I hear you – almost every Manchester City goal is a team goal of sorts. They don’t do solo goals, set-pieces, or goalmouth scrambles. That’s beneath Pep Guardiola’s atas (elegant) philosophy.

Still, a well-worked team goal is always a sight to behold. Just look at the way Man City seamlessly worked the ball from the middle of the pitch to the penalty box with quick one-two touch passing, before Foden applied the finishing touch from Sterling’s low cross. Goosebumps.

Dennis Praet lets rip a thunderbolt into the top corner

To be honest, I’m feeling a little sore at including Praet into this list, simply because I had initially wanted to transfer Praet into my Fantasy Premier League team, but thought better of it at the last moment. The player he was supposed to replace in my team? Nicolas “bloody one point only” Pepe.

Of course, you would have gathered by now that Praet’s goal must have been really something for me to acquiesce and include him in this list.

Receiving the ball at the edge of the area from Harvey Barnes, Praet body feints to get away from his marker, takes the ball back inside with his second touch, sets the ball for a shot with his third touch, before unleashing a top-quality thunderbolt that Zeus would have been proud of into the top corner.

So, who’s your choice for goal of the week?

This article, “GOAL OF THE WEEK: Son and Praet strikes stand out in record goal-filled EPL matchweek”, originally appeared on Football Siao – Singapore’s craziest EPL website.