For 93 minutes it appeared as though Everton’s defensive barricade would not be breached despite Liverpool’s second-half dominance at Goodison Park last night.
Jürgen Klopp’s side controlled proceedings after the half-time interval but Everton stood firm, that is until deep into injury time — there were eight minutes added on following an injury to Maarten Stekelenburg, the Everton goalkeeper.
In the 94th minute Sadio Mané, the Liverpool forward who has been a revelation since joining the club last summer, reacted quicker than Everton’s defenders to poke home from close range after Daniel Sturridge had hit a post, ensuring Liverpool took all three points instead of just one.
Liverpool have beaten Everton four times in the Premier League with injury-time strikes while Manchester United were synonymous with late goals under Sir Alex Ferguson — such a regular occurrence, there was even a name for it: “Fergie time”.
But which side have won the most, and indeed lost the most, points this season courtesy of goals that have been scored in the last minute of regular time or later?
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Arsenal have twice scored winning goals in injury-time this season, gaining Arsène Wenger’s side four points — a joint Premier League high. In September, Laurent Koscielny scored a controversial 93rd-minute goal in the 1-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor.
While back in September, Santi Cazorla was on target from the penalty spot against Southampton in the 94th minute, earning Arsenal a 2-1 victory.
Burnley have also won four points thanks to last-minute goals. Scott Arfield’s 90th-minute effort against Everton sealed a 2-1 victory for Sean Dyche’s side in October, while last month Ashley Barnes’s 94th-minute goal earned a dramatic 3-2 win against Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace and Swansea City have each won three points late on. Palace scored a 94th-minute winner against Sunderland and a 93rd-minute equaliser against Bournemouth.
Swansea meanwhile, turned zero points into three against Alan Pardew’s side during their remarkable 5-4 victory last month with Fernando Llorente scoring in the 91st and 93rd minute.
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This nine-goal thriller is the main contributor to Crystal Palace having the worst record in the top flight of points lost to goals in the 90th minute or later. The southeast London club have also conceded the most goals (4) in injury-time.
Burnley and Sunderland have each conceded three injury-time goals with Burnley losing three points to last-minute goals and Sunderland two points.
Manchester City have scored four goals after the 89th minute — a joint high in the Premier League — although none of them were decisive. Arsenal have also scored four, while Liverpool, helped by last night’s goal, are third.