The five fastest Premier League goals in history

In football, they often say the team that starts slowest is the first to be punished. And, after last week’s events, Watford would certainly agree with that sentiment. Southampton’s Shane Long stunned the footballing world by finding the Hornets’ net less than eight seconds after kickoff. It broke a 19-year record by over two seconds, with the Republic of Ireland international writing his name in history as the scorer of the fastest Premier League goal in history.

In the league’s 27 seasons to date, a number of players have come close – but not quite close enough – to matching this feat, so today we take a look at the five quickest goals in Premier League history.

5. Mark Viduka, Leeds vs Charlton (2001) – 11.9s

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Back in 2001, times were brighter for Leeds United. On the back of an impressive 1999/00 season, David O’Leary led his charges from the qualifying stages to the semi-finals of the Champions League. The West Yorkshire side also found themselves amidst a battle to finish in the top two of the Premier League for the first time; a million miles away from their current Championship promotion challenge in 2018/19.

Coming up against Charlton away from home in March 2001, only a win would do to maintain Leeds’ late-season push. And it wasn’t long at all before they found a breakthrough in treacherous conditions. Ian Harte played a deft long ball forward almost immediately from the Whites’ kickoff, with Alan Smith nodding onto the path of Viduka. The Australian international, who would finish on a creditable 17 league goals for the season, expertly fired in a low drive, beating keeper Sasa Ilic.

Leeds would end up winning the Premier League contest 2-1, but their European exploits seemingly took their toll come the end of the season. O’Leary’s side ended up in fourth – just two points behind second-placed Arsenal, but outside of Champions League qualification.

4. Christian Eriksen, Tottenham vs Man United (2018) – 10.54s

The scorer of the fastest goal in Wembley Stadium history for a number of years was, remarkably, Paul Chow of the Northern League Division 1’s Crawley Bay – who fired home 21 seconds into his side’s 2010 FA Vase final against Wroxham. You’re forgiven if the name doesn’t ring a bell.

But, eight years later, the much more recognisable Christian Eriksen would usurp the record when his Tottenham side took on Manchester United at their temporary home in the Premier League. Many fans reportedly missed this one, as they took their seat in the plush Wembley stands. A long ball straight from kickoff took a couple of ricochets and sat up perfectly for the Dane, who fired into the left-hand side of the Red Devils’ goal with just 10 seconds on the clock.

“Everything fell perfectly for me, even the ball was laying down there nice and quiet and all I had to do was step up and kick it in – the perfect start to a very good game,” the now 27-year-old said when speaking to his club’s official site post-match. The goal put Spurs on their way to a dominant 2-0 victory over Jose Mourinho’s men.

3. Alan Shearer, Newcastle vs Man City (2003) – 10.52s

For many years, Newcastle legend Alan Shearer believed he lay claim to the joint-fastest Premier League goal in history (more on that below). While the records show his strike against Manchester City in 2003 was actually the third-quickest, it makes the strike no less impressive.

Having started the game full of energy and determination, Shearer sprinted down to put pressure on reserve City goalkeeper Carlo Nash as he received a back-pass almost immediately from kickoff. Nash seemingly had one eye on the prolific England forward, as his first touch was a heavy one. Panicking to get the ball away, Nash’s eventual clearance would be charged down by Shearer, with the ball sitting up nicely after cannoning off his body, allowing the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer to notch his side in front after only 10.52 seconds.

The Magpies would build on their lead through a second-half strike from Craig Bellamy, and would run out 2-0 winners on the day.

2. Ledley King, Tottenham vs Bradford (2000) – 9.82s

One-club man Ledley King wasn’t known for his prolific goalscoring, having served as a central defender for the majority of his career with Tottenham between 1999-2012. Indeed, the 21-times-capped England international scored only 10 goals in 268 competitive appearances for his club side.

However, having broken through into the Spurs first team under George Graham in 1999, King was often deployed as a central midfielder in the early stages of his Premier League career. It was here where one of the unlikeliest candidates set a new record for fastest top-flight goal; a record that would go unbeaten for 19 years.

With Tottenham kicking off their December 2000 fixture with Bradford, King picked up a scruffy header from kickoff, shooting from 30 yards out. It wasn’t exactly highlight-reel material – King’s shot required a deflection to find the net – but it was a record nevertheless.

For some time, King was unsure if his goal was truly the quickest in Premier League history, as statisticians had tended to round timings up to the nearest whole second. However, a 2018 study by Opta confirmed that his effort clocked in at 9.82s, even quicker than initially believed.

“Really pleased about that. I wasn’t sure if technology proved there was a quicker goal and it was going to get taken off me all of sudden,” King admitted last year. “So I am pleased for now I am still holding that record.”

1. Shane Long, Southampton vs Watford (2019) – 7.69s

As we now know, King wouldn’t hold that record for much longer. Rather than being broken by fellow Spurs veteran Harry Kane – as Ledley had predicted – however, another unlikely challenger emerged. Southampton’s Shane Long has plied his trade as a forward throughout his career, but had scored only 11 league goals in the previous four seasons when his side came up against Watford in April 2019.

However, the Republic of Ireland international ensured that his name would be etched in history as he latched onto a misplaced pass from Craig Cathcart following the Hornets’ somewhat laboured kickoff, before lofting an exceptional finish over a hapless Ben Foster.

There have been many spectacular, quick, last-minute and dramatic goals in the history of the Premier League. But Shane Long will live in history – at least for now – as the scorer of the fastest-ever. Who has the awareness, cunning and precision to topple him? Let us know in the comments below.