Goals Galore At The Cottage

Last night, the Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland stormed his way into the history books, becoming the fastest player ever to score 100 Premier League goals, needing only 111 games to do it. If that wasn't enough, he hit this milestone with only 17 minutes on the clock, before the match erupted into a nine-goal thriller which finished 5-4.

A nine-goal thriller will have you feeling every emotion 🎢 pic.twitter.com/O6zJjWse2A

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 3, 2025

That chaotic score line got us thinking, what are the highest-scoring games in Premier League history?

From ruthless annihilations to outright humiliation, today we're diving into some of the most dramatic goal-fests the league has ever seen.

The Premier League Netbusters

Portsmouth 7-4 Reading

Going all the way back to 2007 for this one, Fratton Park welcomed Reading in an 11-goal thriller.

Zimbabwean striker Benjani scored a hat-trick for Pompey in this game. Born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, the striker enjoyed a 6-year spell in England, playing for Portsmouth, Man City, Blackburn Rovers, and Sunderland.

=2254. Mpenjani Mwaruwari, "BENJANI"

Striker - 13.08.78 - ZIM (42/10)

Prem Debut:
14/01/2006 (PORTSMOUTH vs. Everton, L 1-0)

Prem Clubs:
Portsmouth (06-08), Manchester City (08-10), Sunderland (10), Blackburn Rovers (10-11)

Prem Apps: 119
Prem Goals: 26 pic.twitter.com/jzQj90uuGn

— Premier League Players (@premlgeplayers) January 18, 2024

The Portsmouth team also featured England legend Sol Campbell, who scored an own goal in stoppage time, and former AC Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari, who scored a penalty.

Nowadays, both teams play their football in the EFL, so we don't expect they're as capable of putting on such a blockbuster display today.

Man United 8-2 Arsenal

In what was considered one of the most embarrassing results of the early 2010s, the Red Devils thrashed Arsenal at Old Trafford early on in the 2011/12 season.

Goals from Danny Welbeck, Nani, and Ji-Sung Park, as well as a brace from Wayne Rooney, all but buried the Gunners. Notably, Robin Van Persie scored for Arsenal, and he would go on to join Man United the following season. The 2011/12 season was one of fireworks, and this was the perfect curtain raiser.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🎯 Absolute banger from Ashley Young scoring a free-kick for Manchester United. 🤩

He is also the OLDEST player to score from a direct free-kick in Premier League history.

pic.twitter.com/AxEDZJt7g3

— {fan}UTDRichkid (@coolkoos7) November 29, 2025

Ashley Young also scored a brace in this game, having signed for Man United in the summer from Aston Villa. Originally a left-winger, Young would go on to play in a variation of positions in defence and attack for the club during his 9-year stint at Old Trafford. The veteran now plays his football at Ipswich Town in the Championship after leaving Everton in the summer. Now aged 40 years old, we wonder how his legs are holding up!

West Brom 5-5 Man United

Fresh off a title win, Man United set off for their final parade on the last day of the season at The Hawthorns. This was also Sir Alex Ferguson's final game in charge of the club - some send-off!

The Red Devils were cruising by 3 goals early in the first half, yet the footballing world hadn't yet been introduced to the latest Belgian export.

Enter Romelu Lukaku for West Brom. On loan from Chelsea, the 20-year-old ripped apart the United defence, scoring a hattrick and helping the Baggies close off the season in style.

🎥 Romelu Lukaku at West Brom

Unreal baller 🔥 #WBA pic.twitter.com/G85Rmsmuzm

— WBA Report (@WBAReport) August 28, 2024

Lukaku would go on to score over 100 Premier League goals with Everton, Man United, and Chelsea, and though much maligned at the latter two, he will always be fondly remembered by both Baggies and Toffee's fans.

West Ham 5-4 Bradford City

Before they became renowned giant-killing cup menaces, Bradford City were a well-respected Premier League side, and they certainly played their part in an unforgettable nine-goal spectacle at Upton Park back in 2000.

Goals from Joe Cole, Paulo Di Canio, and Frank Lampard helped see the Hammers through, and despite a brace from Jamaican winger Jamie Lawrence for Bradford, the Bantams walked away with nothing.

This was an era where West Ham had a conveyor belt of young talent, as well as true characters in the side. Frank Lampard and Joe Cole would go on to have illustrious careers at Chelsea; meanwhile, Paolo Di Canio would go on to play for Charlton Athletic before returning to Italy.

This goal from Paolo Di Canio isn't mentioned enough 😍 pic.twitter.com/mtMSzdv2Tk

— Former Footballers (@FinishedPlayers) February 26, 2023

A yesteryear icon, Di Canio is famous for his scissor-kick strike for the Hammers, as well as his controversial managerial career, which lasted all but 2 years. Di Canio had spells in the dugout at both Swindon Town and Sunderland before taking a step back – maybe for the best, Paolo.

Chelsea 7-2 Sunderland

Chelsea were unstoppable in the 2009/10 season, lifting the league and cup double under Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti, and their dominance was showcased in this dramatic match at Stamford Bridge.

French forward Nicolas Anelka scored a brace in this game, and club all-time top scorer Frank Lampard matched this. Anelka was a menace for Chelsea, lifting the golden boot in the 2008/09 season. After playing for over 5 clubs in the league, it was Chelsea where he really found his knack for finding the back of the net.

Nicolas Anelka signed for the Blues #OnThisDay in 2008! 💙👊 pic.twitter.com/t4ii3DZAQG

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 11, 2025

Sunderland had a late consolation from former England international Darren Bent, but the game was all but over for the Black Cats.

Man City 7-2 Stoke City

The 2017/18 season was the birth of Pep Guardiola's dominance in the Premier League as Man City cruised past Stoke City at the Etihad.

Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Jesus netted twice, with two more goals coming from club legends Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho. Stoke had a birth of life from former Man United striker Mame Biram Diouf, but the game was all but finished by the end of the first half.

The Centurions - The Only English Club to Achieve This! 💯

✅ Most Points - 100
✅ Most Points ahead of 2nd - 19
✅ Most Wins - 32
✅ Most Goals - 106
✅ Best GD - +79
✅ Most Consecutive Wins - 18#ManCity 💯 pic.twitter.com/k6B1n3got3

— City Chief (@City_Chief) June 1, 2024

Man City would go on to steamroll the league, breaking records left, right and centre. Unfortunately for Stoke, they faced relegation as they finished 19th. Interestingly, Stoke haven't been back since.

Southampton 0-9 Leicester City

In one of the most embarrassing home displays ever, back in 2019, Southampton welcomed Leicester to St Mary's. What happened next was carnage.

An early goal from young English left-back Ben Chilwell was followed up by a hattrick from Spaniard Ayoze Perez. That's 4 goals, but Jamie Vardy's party hasn't even begun.

ON THIS DAY: In 2019, Leicester recorded the biggest away win in Premier League history as they beat Southampton 9-0 at St. Mary's.

◉ ⚽10' Chilwell
◉ ⚽17' Tielemans
◉ ⚽19' Ayoze
◉ ⚽39' Ayoze
◉ ⚽45' Vardy
◉ ⚽57' Ayoze
◉ ⚽58' Vardy
◉ ⚽85' Maddison
◉ ⚽94'… pic.twitter.com/CZqyqDRSAo

— Squawka (@Squawka) October 25, 2025

Vardy also netted a hattrick, and would go on to win the Premier League golden boot at the end of the season with 23 goals. The Foxes finished 5th, reaching European football for the first time since they did the unthinkable.

Liverpool 9-0 Bournemouth

Dominance at Anfield saw Liverpool smash 9 past Bournemouth with no reply back in 2022.

Today will be Burnley manager Scott Parker’s first Premier League match against Liverpool since losing 9-0 with Bournemouth back in August 2022. pic.twitter.com/RPJowjk55r

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) September 14, 2025

Managed by Scott Parker, the Cherries set out for a new era in the Premier League after being promoted. However, things didn't go to plan in this early season opener. Colombian winger Luis Diaz scored twice and so did Roberto Firmino. Bournemouth defender Chris Mepham took the day off and awarded Liverpool another with a calamitous own goal, and youngster Fabio Carvalho closed off proceedings for the Reds.

Despite this mind-blowing result, Liverpool only finished 5th this season, while Bournemouth completed a last-gasp escape from relegation and survived - far from the Bournemouth team we know today!

Chelsea 8-0 Wigan

Another mention of the fantastic Chelsea 2009/10 season - can you guess what team our writer supports? On the final day of the season, Chelsea needed to win to secure the title; they didn't just win, they demolished Wigan.

Throwback to when Chelsea needed to win their last match to secure EPL as they were just 1 point ahead of Man Utd. They had to flawlessly beat Wigan 8-0. Ancelotti Chelsea were really ruthless man. 😂

pic.twitter.com/Vl8gaTK3nB

— GiftedHands (@Sire_Gift) November 11, 2025

Didier Drogba scored a hat-trick which would see him clinch the Premier League Golden Boot for the season. Premier League greats Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole also scored. An 8-goal demolition job at Stamford Bridge saw the Blues lift their third Premier League title.

Middlesbrough 8-1 Man City

This may sound like an ancient myth to younger fans, but believe it or not, there was a time when Man City weren’t the footballing empire they are today.

Cast your mind back to 2008: a simpler era, when a Stuart Downing brace and a hat-trick from Brazilian forward Afonso Alves created one of the most bizarre afternoons the Riverside has ever seen.

🔴 Middlesbrough 8-1 Man City 🔵

17 years ago today, Man City suffered their biggest ever Premier League defeat. 😳 pic.twitter.com/B7EAyqmJH0

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 11, 2025

Fast forward eight years, and the oil-fuelled transformation was complete. Under Pep Guardiola's immaculate guidance, the Sky Blues hosted newly promoted Middlesbrough at the Etihad. Unable to avenge their embarrassment from the last decade, the sides drew 1-1.

So much for unlimited investment solving everything, eh?