Manchester City netted a record 156 goals in all competitions last season… now begins the search for the best.
The likes of Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko all led from the front and Yaya Toure had his best goalscoring season yet from midfield.
City became the highest-scoring English team in history after passing Chelsea’s tally of 147 goals in total with 102 of these coming in the league, which, coupled with a back line conceding just 37 goals, resulted in a goal difference of +65 in the final league table.
The most pleasing thing to take from all the above though will surely be the sheer variety in which the goals came, with the whole squad having big parts to play in providing and sharing the responsibility.
In celebration of this, MM has compiled its shortlist of the five best Manchester City goals of the season for you to salivate over and appreciate.
Voting opens on June 30 for a week before the winner is revealed on August 14 at City Live in Manchester Central.
All these strikes shared significant importance for one reason or another and contributed greatly in helping City to the League and League Cup double.
1: Yaya Toure’s clinical curler against Viktoria Plzen
Manchester City opened their UEFA Champions League campaign in fine style with a 3-0 win at Viktoria Plzen.
City should have been ahead at the break as, barring a couple of minor scares, they dominated at the Doosan Arena before three goals early in the second half saw Manuel Pellegrini’s men home in comfortable fashion.
It is the second goal that will be remembered though as Toure scored a brilliant curling effort just after half time to double City’s advantage.
2: Sergio Aguero’s exquisite volley in September’s Manchester Derby
Well, Aguero is no stranger to scoring stunning goals. No doubt, when asked of your favourite Sergio strike, there’s one that pops into your head straight away – but in terms of his exquisite efforts from the 2013/14 season, the opener in a 4-1 win over United certainly stands out.
This goal and then the win so early on in the season set the tone for the title as bragging rights once again stayed with the blue half of Manchester after the disappointment of United’s final championship under Ferguson the season before.
3: Alvaro Negredo’s outstanding turn and finish in a 6-0 demolition of Tottenham
Next up on our list is Negredo’s strike as part of the 6-0 rout of Spurs at the Etihad Stadium. The Spanish striker made an almost immediate impact on arrival in Manchester, and collected September’s Etihad Player of the month award to kick off a debut campaign in which he plundered a total of 23 goals.
This strike was one of his best after a sumptuous turn and left foot strike deceived the defender and goalkeeper alike.
4: Yaya Toure’s unbelievable strike against Sunderland in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley
With the Blues trailing to a first-half Fabio Borini strike and Manuel Pellegrini’s men piling on the pressure, the ball fell to the Ivorian powerhouse 25 yards out. What happened next was simply incredible….
Without taking a touch even to compose himself, Toure hit an effort towards goal. As it sailed high through the air, the shot seemed to be curling off-target – but it proved everyone wrong, dipping beautifully into the top corner to draw City level and on their way to the League Cup trophy.
5: Aguero’s thumping strike against Chelsea
After Andre Schürrle had put Chelsea ahead in the first half, the clinical Argentine struck an absolute thunderbolt after being played through by Nasri. Sumptuous as the strike was, the way which Aguero checked his run in order to stay onside was equally as impressive. Although City went on to lose the game 2-1, the goal was a sign that Aguero was somewhere back to his best after niggling injury problems beforehand.
Main image courtesy of Action Images/Alex Norton, with thanks.
