Top 10 Premier League Goals of 2011 [VIDEO]

Goals is goals and 2011 has been a bumper year for the Premier League in terms of the number scored.

Some time quite soon, probably in the next seven days, the 20,000th goal in the Premier League's will be scored.

And this year has seen the greatest number of goals per game - almost three a match - than at any other time in the league's history.

On that note, IBTimes Sport takes a look at the best goals scored in 2011.

1. Wayne Rooney v Manchester City

Wayne Rooney called it the best goal he's ever scored, while Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson labelled it the greatest strike he's seen in 25 years at Old Trafford. Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart could only admire it fly into the net.

Rooney's bicycle kick in the Manchester derby has gathered its own roster of superlatives. It doesn't get any worse, the more you watch it.

2. Cheik Tiote v Arsenal

In the ultimate game of two halves, Cheik Tiote's magnificent strike in the dying minutes completed a remarkable Newcastle comeback and all but ended Arsenal's title challenge. Joey Barton's whipped free kick was headed clear as far as Tiote who, 20-yards from goal, struck a sumptuous volley into the bottom corner. Any player who can prompt this reaction from Phil Thompson deserves a prime spot in this list.

3. Stiliyan Petrov v Everton

The Aston Villa captain broke his 12-month barren run with a lovely long-range effort. Warnock rolled the ball to Petrov, 30-yards from goal and, with the Everton defenders failing to close him down, the Bulgarian scintillating shot that nestled in the corner, low to goalkeeper Tim Howard's left.

4. Johan Elmander v Wolves

Elmander's dextrous goal against Wolves belied the big striker's reputation for lumbering oafishness. The industrious Stuart Holden fed Elmander inside the Wolves box, before the much-maligned Swede somehow wriggled free of three opposition defenders before coolly placing the ball beyond Marcus Hahnemann.

5. Robin van Persie v Everton

The Dutchman notched his 33rd league goal of 2011 with a majestic volley across goalkeeper Tim Howard and in off the post. The 28-year-old watched Alex Song's perfectly weighted cross-field pass all the way onto his left boot before hitting a sweet shot into the Everton net.

6. Raul Meireles v Wolves

This Raul Meireles corker came just days after his first ever strike for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby against Everton. A long ball from the back was only partially cleared by the Wolves defence who didn't bank on Meireles, 25-yards from goal, arcing a delightful volley high into the net.

7. Jermaine Beckford v Chelsea

Sixteen minutes from time, Beckford pounced on Chelsea's careless short corner on the edge of Everton's penalty area. What followed was a textbook case of the ridiculous mixed with the sublime. The striker bombed forward, ploughing through a swath of Chelsea players in his own half before being briefly halted by a chasing back in the centre circle, he wriggled free to bear down on goal, his heavy touch gifting Petr Cech an opening before he casually flicked the ball over the Chelsea keeper and into the net.

8. Ryan Taylor v Everton

Newcastle have been 2011's surprise package, unbeaten in the league going into November, Alan Pardew has seen a remarkable turnaround since assuming the reigns last December. Full-back Ryan Taylor has exemplified the club's recent upswing and his stunning strike against Everton capped a remarkable year for the defender.

Jack Rodwell's weak clearance was collected by Taylor 25-yards from goal. He chested the loose ball before lashing in a dipping volley that crashed in off the underside of the bar; a candidate for goal of the season and a nice moment for the boyhood Liverpool fan.

9. Simon Cox v Tottenham

Simon Cox's superb late equaliser secured Premier League safety for West Brom and dealt a major blow to Tottenham's Champions League ambitions. Picking up the ball on the left flank, he traded passes with Nicky Shorey before cutting inside and curling a sublime shot over Gomes and into the far top corner.

10. Carlos Tevez v Stoke

A moment of genius from the controversial Argentine helped Manchester City secure second place in the Premier League. Charlie Adam's strike against Blackburn may have garnered more headlines but Tevez's goal makes the list by virtue of its sheer impishness. Fully 30-yards from goal and only slightly off-centre, the City striker bent in a 30-yard free kick that Thomas Sorensen couldn't get anywhere near.

The goal bookended a remarkable year for the Argentina international and for City, as Manchester United's noisy neighbours finally found their voice.