Feature

See the first goalscorer of EVERY Premier League season

16 Aug 2024
Manchester United FC v Fulham FC - Premier League

Joshua Zirkzee adds his name to list of players to score the opening goal of a campaign

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Joshua Zirkzee has added his name to the list of players who can say they scored the opening goal of a Premier League season. 

Summer signing Zirkzee scored a late winner on his Premier League debut to give Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Fulham

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He became the first Dutch player to score the first goal of a Premier League campaign since Ruud van Nistelrooy did so, also for Man Utd, in 2005/06. 

Overall, Zirkzee is the fourth player to score an opening goal of a Premier League season for Man Utd, putting them one short of Liverpool, who hold the record, with five. 

Had Man Utd v Fulham stayed goalless until the final whistle, Liverpool would have got the chance to add to their record, as they play promoted Ipswich Town in the first match of Saturday, kicking off at 12:30 BST.

Opening scorer of every season
Season Minute Player Team Opp
1992/93 5 Deane SHU MUN
1993/94 10 Beagrie EVE SOU
1994/95 2 Campbell ARS MCI
1995/96 5 Shearer BLB QPR
Ekoku WIM BOL
Williamson WHU LEE
1996/97 4 Bjornebye LIV MID
1997/98 2 Asprilla NEW SHW
1998/99 7 Heskey LEI MUN
1999/00 10 Cort WIM WAT
2000/01 9 Venus IPS TOT
2001/02 15 Nolan BOL LEI
2002/03 4 Ricketts BOL FUL
2003/04 36 Dunn BIR TOT
2004/05 38 Cisse LIV TOT
2005/06 43  Van Nistelrooy MUN  EVE 
2006/07 46  Hulse  SHU  LIV 
2007/08  90  Chopra  SUN  TOT 
2008/09 4 Nasri ARS WBA
2009/10 28 Hunt HUL CHE
2010/11 14 Kalinic BLA EVE
2011/12 12 Suarez LIV SUN
2012/13 8 Michu SWA QPR
2013/14 37 Sturridge LIV STK
2014/15 28 Ki SWA MUN
2015/16 22 Walker (OG) MUN TOT
2016/17 45 Diomande HUL LEI
2017/18 2 Lacazette ARS LEI
2018/19 3 Pogba MUN LEI
2019/20 7 Hanley (OG) LIV NOR
2020/21 8 Lacazette ARS FUL
2021/22 22 Canos BRE ARS
2022/23 20 Martinelli ARS CRY
2023/24 4 Haaland MCI BUR
2024/25 87 Zirkzee MUN FUL

*For the seasons to 2002/03 the goalscorers above are for the fastest goals scored on the first Matchweek when there was no single opening match

Latest opener in 17 seasons

Zirkzee's goal was the latest opening goal of a Premier League campaign for 17 seasons. In each of the previous 16 campaigns the first goal had come in the first half of the opening match.

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