Ainsley Maitland-Niles scoring for Everton (left), Wayne Rooney scoring for Everton (right)
Ainsley Maitland-Niles scoring for Everton (left), Wayne Rooney scoring for Everton (right)
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is up for the Premier League Goal of the Month award for his stunning strike against Manchester United.
Maitland-Niles saved Everton’s bacon earlier this month as he popped up at the last moment against United at Hill Dickinson Stadium to find the top corner.
He had only just come on as a substitute, and he had signed for the club just days before, arriving on transfer deadline day from Lyon.
The goal has instantly endeared him to the supporters, and the goal is rightly nominated for the Premier League’s Goal of the Month award for September.
It’s an award that hasn’t been won very often by Everton players, so with that, we look back at the three players who actually did scoop it.
Fans can vote for Maitland-Niles’ goal to win via the Premier League’s official website (up until 12pm, Monday 28th September).
Wayne Rooney vs West Ham United – November 2017
Wayne Rooney in his second spell at Everton wasn’t the same player as he was for Manchester United- but he still produced moments of absolute brilliance in the Toffees shirt.
And arguably his best game of his second stint came against West Ham United back in November 2017.
He scored a hat-trick that evening, and his third was a truly spectacular strike.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin tried to latch on to a clearance into the West Ham half, but goalkeeper Joe Hart got there first. But his clearance fell to Rooney, who was still just inside his own half.
Without even taking a touch, Rooney pinged the ball over Hart and into the empty net. It was a beautiful strike from all of 59 yards out. Ironically, David Moyes was West Ham’s manager at the time.
Andros Townsend vs Burnley – September 2021
Andros Townsend is not thought of as one of the best wingers to grace the Premier League, but he didn’t half score some great goals in the competition.
Townsend actually won the Premier League’s Goal of the Month award three times, and for his third win he was wearing Everton colours.
In a game against Burnley in September 2021 at Goodison Park, he picked the ball up from an inside-right position, and struck a looping shot into the far top corner with his left foot.
He had already provided an assist in the game, but the goal was rather special, with Townsend showing amazing technique, which is something he often did when scoring in the Premier League.
Everton won that match 3-1 to remain unbeaten in the league under new manager Rafa Benitez.
Demarai Gray vs Man City – December 2022
The last Everton player to win a Premier League Goal of the Month award was Demarai Gray for his strike against Manchester City in December 2022.
City turned the ball over just inside the Everton half to Idrissa Gana Gueye, who passed to Demarai Gray to surge away with the ball down the left side. There didn’t appear to be too much danger for City as they had several men back, but Gray did not let that faze him.
Manuel Akanji engaged him, prompting Gray to turn back on himself. That allowed him to create a bit of space, as did the overlapping Lucas Digne. Gray stumbled slightly, but regained his composure in a millisecond to unleash a fierce curling effort into the far corner.
The ball kissed the crossbar on its way in, making it even more aesthetically pleasing. It could not have been more in the corner, and no goalkeeper in the world would have saved it.