The 10 Fastest-Ever Premier League Goals
The 10 Fastest Goals in Premier League History
Ledley King scored the fastest Premier League goal in 2000 and held the crown for nearly twenty years - until his record was broken twice in four years.
But what are the fastest-ever goals in the Premier League? And who scored them? Read on to find out - the top spot might surprise you!
Iconic goalscorer Alan Shearer
It’s rare to see an early goal in a football game because sides don’t want to overcommit and leave themselves open. So it’s inconceivable that there have been three goals scored in Premier League history within the first ten seconds!
There’s no better feeling than taking the lead immediately after kick-off, but there must be no worse moment than going one goal down before finding your seat in the dugout.
The team plan can go out the window less than a minute after the whistle blows, but which players have the fastest-ever Premier League goals?
The Fastest Goals in Premier League History: 10th - 6th
10. James Beattie (13.52 secs)
He is 10th on the list for his effort against Chelsea on August 28, 2004.
Beattie latched onto a misplaced pass and volleyed an effort from distance past Petr Cech to give Southampton the lead at Stamford Bridge in only 13.52 seconds.
9. Kevin Nolan (13.48 secs)
Nolan is 9th for his goal against the Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on January 10, 2004.
The Bolton Wanderers took the kick-off and launched the ball from deep in Blackburn’s area. Kevin Davies kept the ball in play at the byline for the onrushing Nolan to fire home in 13.48 seconds.
8. Chris Sutton (12.94 secs)
Sutton is 8th on the list for his goal against Everton on April 1, 1995 at Goodison Park.
Blackburn took the kick-off and launched the ball long for Sutton to reach Everton’s defensive third.
He won the header and collected a headed pass from Alan Shearer before finishing from close range in 12.94 seconds.
7. Dwight Yorke (12.16 secs)
Yorke is 7th on the list for his goal against Coventry City on September 30, 1995 at Highfield Road.
Aston Villa took the kick-off and launched the ball down the right flank to Ian Taylor who whipped a ball for Yorke to head home from close range in 12.16 seconds.
6. Mark Viduka (11.90 secs)
One of Australia’s greatest footballers, Viduka is 6th on the list for his goal against Charlton Athletic on March 17, 2001.
Leeds United took the kick-off and Ian Harte pinged a ball from deep that Alan Smith nodded to Viduka, who curled his effort home from inside the area in 11.90 seconds.
The Top 5 Fastest-Ever Premier League Goals
5. Christian Erikson v Man Utd (10.54 secs)
Tottenham v Man Utd on January 31, 2018
Eriksen is fifth on the list for his well-worked goal against Manchester United that somehow saw him with the ball at his feet in the penalty area after just four touches from teammates.
Tottenham hosted the Red Devils at their temporary Wembley home on January 31, 2018 and got off to the perfect start.
Mousa Dembele took the kick-off and passed to Jan Vertonghen who launched the ball forward to Harry Kane just outside the United area.
Kane won the header and Dele Alli ran onto the ball and backheeled a pass into Eriksen’s path who curled his effort past David De Gea with one touch.
United were shell-shocked, going 1-0 down without a touch of the ball. They went on to lose the game 2-0 after a Phil Jones own goal.
4. Alan Shearer v Man City (10.52 secs)
Newcastle v Man City on January 18, 2003
The Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer has netted every type of goal possible in his career, so it’s not a surprise to see him on the list for bagging an early one.
Shearer’s goal was just 0.02 seconds quicker than Eriksen's, stealing fourth place. And what’s incredible about the former England international’s effort is that City had the kick-off but still conceded after 10 seconds.
Shaun Goater took the kick-off to Nicolas Anelka who laid the ball back to Steve Howey. The centre-back initially hesitated before passing back to Carlo Nash who took a heavy touch.
Shearer chased him down and managed to block Nash’s attempted clearance before passing into an empty net after the ball bounced in his favour.
Newcastle won the game 2-0, with Craig Bellamy scoring in the second half to seal the victory at St James’ Park.
3. Ledley King v Bradford City (9.82 secs)
Bradford v Tottenham on December 9, 2000
King was the first to score a Premier League goal in under 10 seconds - and it was a fantastic strike in a goal-laden game.
Tottenham travelled to Valley Parade to face Bradford City back when they were top-flight opposition, and they got off to the perfect start.
Steffen Freund took the kick-off to King who laid the ball back to Tim Sherwood.
Without taking a touch, Sherwood launched a diagonal ball near the corner flag on the left flank that was headed clear, but King picked up the rebound and bore down on goal.
He looked to have one thought in his mind, controlling the ball and dribbling forward before unleashing a drilling effort from 25 years that beat Matt Clarke.
He was wrong-footed by the shot, but TV replays don’t show an obvious deflection.
The game ended up a six-goal thriller, with Bradford and Tottenham scoring three apiece. King’s goal is surprising to people who only know him as a centre-back, but he was a midfielder in his early days at Spurs.
2. Philip Billing v Arsenal (9.11 secs)
Arsenal v Bournemouth on March 4, 2023
King’s record had already been smashed by more than two seconds by the time Billing scored his early effort against Arsenal, but it’s still an impressive feat nonetheless.
Bournemouth travelled to the Emirates to face an Arsenal side chasing the Premier League title and got off to the perfect start with a brilliantly worked opener.
The Cherries lined up with six players on the halfway line, ready to charge forward immediately after the kick-off.
Dominic Solanke took the kick to Antoine Semenyo who played a first-time pass to Dango Ouattara who charged down the right flank.
He worked space for himself to pick out a cross for Dominic Solanke that Gabriel Magalhães failed to intercept, and the ball ran through to Billing who slotted his effort under Aaron Ramsdale from close range.
Arsenal would go 2-0 down in the same game after conceding before the hour mark from Marcos Senesi, but they ran out 3-2 winners at the Emirates Stadium thanks to Thomas Partey, Ben White and a late Reiss Nelson goal.
1. Shane Long v Watford (7.69 secs)
Watford v Southampton on April 23 2019, Vicarage Road
Long made history in 2019 with the faster-ever Premier League goal - and it’s hard to see his record being broken.
It’s also a goal so synonymous with Long as a player, being rewarded for his work rate and selfless running for the team.
Southampton travelled to Vicarage Road to face Watford and silenced the home crown after seven seconds despite not having the kick-off.
Andre Gray took the kick for the Hornets and laid the ball back to Craig Cathcart in defence, but his attempted diagonal was smartly intercepted by Long who then lobbed his effort over Ben Foster in goal.
It was a great goal, but Southampton ended up drawing the game 1-1 after Gray bagged a late equaliser.
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