Ranking The 6 Worst Misses in Premier League History After Haaland's Blunder vs Man United

Erling Haaland found himself at the centre of attention for what could be deemed the miss of the season.

Positioned mere yards from the goal, the prolific Manchester City striker received Phil Foden's header late in the first half of the Premier League derby against Manchester United.

With United goalkeeper Andre Onana out of position, it seemed impossible for Haaland to miss.

However, the Norway international, known for his scoring prowess, hesitated between heading and volleying the ball.

Opting for the latter, he failed to keep the ball down, sending it over the crossbar, per SkySports.

Haaland's miss joins a list of unforgettable blunders in Premier League history, where top stars faltered in crucial moments, leaving a lasting impression on supporters.

Sports Brief revisits six of the most memorable misses in Premier League history.

Worst Misses in Premier League History

6. Raheem Sterling vs Burnley

While some may argue that Sterling's miss in the Champions League against Lyon was more egregious, his performance at Turf Moor in 2018 hardly earned him praise.

During that match, the Englishman's teammate Kyle Walker executed a remarkable run down the right flank before delivering an impeccable cross towards Sterling's direction.

With the goalkeeper out of position, all Sterling needed to do was slot the ball into the unguarded net – a seemingly straightforward task, isn't it?

However, the winger inexplicably missed the target from close range, resulting in his team settling for a draw against Burnley in the Premier League. Sterling's reaction was one of disbelief as he fell to the ground and pounded the turf in frustration.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo vs Sheffield United

Yes, it's true. Cristiano Ronaldo, widely regarded as the greatest goal scorer ever, surprisingly missed a golden opportunity during Manchester United's match against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in 2006.

Despite being set up perfectly by Ryan Giggs, the Portugal star inexplicably skied his shot over the bar from just three yards out.

Unmarked in the penalty area, Ronaldo simply needed to slot the ball home – perhaps he can attribute it to the uneven pitch.

Fortunately, his miss didn't affect the game's outcome as Wayne Rooney's brace secured a 2-1 victory for the Red Devils. Given Ronaldo's exceptional skills, one would expect him to score such chances every time without fail.

4. Sergio Aguero vs Chelsea

Throughout his tenure tormenting defenders in the Premier League, Aguero amassed numerous instances where the goalkeeper had to retrieve the ball from the net – precisely 184 times.

Yet, the prolific Argentine encountered a lapse in concentration at the Etihad Stadium during Manchester City's encounter with Chelsea in 2019, per ESPN.

He inexplicably missed a straightforward chance from Bernardo Silva's exquisite cross. While Chelsea fans breathed a sigh of relief, Aguero quickly redeemed himself by scoring a hat-trick, leading City to a resounding 6-0 victory that left Blues fans feeling dejected.

3. Ronny Rosenthal vs Aston Villa

One of the most infamous misses in Premier League history happened in the inaugural season. Rosenthal of Liverpool failed to score despite rounding Aston Villa goalkeeper Nigel Spink.

With only the goalkeeper to beat, Rosenthal's attempt ended in disappointment. His left-footed shot hit the crossbar, leaving Liverpool fans bewildered by the missed opportunity.

Despite scoring one goal, Villa emerged victorious with a 4-2 win. Rosenthal likely regretted not securing a brace, which could have altered the outcome of the match.

2. Matt Ritchie vs Burnley

Newcastle United fans initially thought Ritchie's shot had scored at Turf Moor, celebrating wildly. However, TV replays revealed he had sliced his effort wide with the goal open, quickly turning celebrations into disbelief.

Right-back DeAndre Yedlin utilised his speed to reach the ball and charged into the Burnley penalty area. After a failed slide tackle, the ball found its way to Ritchie, who was positioned at the back post.

Despite his attempt to score, the Englishman missed, dampening the spirits of Newcastle supporters. However, the Magpies still managed to secure a 2-1 victory in that game, thanks to an own goal from Ben Mee and a header from Ciaran Clark.

Ritchie humorously commented after the match, expressing his hope that his miss wouldn't end up in Premier League miss's compilations.

1. Fernando Torres vs Manchester United

In a moment emblematic of Torres' tenure at Chelsea, the striker initially displayed superb skill to deceive Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea but then squandered a clear chance by firing wide of the post.

Chelsea ultimately succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford, with Rooney's brace securing victory for the Red Devils.

Torres' miss not only cost Chelsea a chance to equalise against United but also left fans and players alike frustrated.

Despite his hefty £50m price tag, Torres struggled to meet expectations, joining the list of players unable to thrive wearing Chelsea's No.9 shirt. He departed from the club in 2016 after tallying 45 goals in 172 appearances across all competitions.

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The England international was in inspired form as he helped City come from behind to beat Thomas Frank’s men 3-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium.

City, who were beaten twice by Brentford last season, saw their unrelenting attacks pay off as Foden equalised just before half-time.