'Roy of the Rovers stuff' - Worthing's Harrison Reed may have already sealed the Premier League goal of the season award with 'phenomenal strike' against Liverpool
Scoring a last gasp equaliser against Liverpool is one thing, but doing it with a 30-yard screamer would have been beyond the wildest dreams of Worthing’s Harrison Reed.
That is precisely what the Findon-born midfielder did for Fulham on Sunday (January 4).
With the Cottagers trailing 2-1 after Cody Gakpo’s 94th minute goal, the hosts looked destined for defeat at Craven Cottage.
But Reed had other ideas.
Having been introduced in the second minute of injury-time, the 30-year-old put his name in lights, five minutes later, with a sensational goal – his first since April 2023.
The strike, which landed in the top right corner, will surely be a contender for goal of the Premier League season.
It was just the fourth goal of Reed’s Fulham career and his eighth as a senior footballer.
Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, Reed said: “I knew we’d get a chance, but I thought it’d be a bit more clear cut than that. It came to me nicely and I’ve had no other option than to just hit one.
“What a feeling. I’m not sure on the celebration, I was a bit everywhere, but a deserved point for us, definitely.”
Premier League striker Clinton Morrison, on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, described the strike as a ‘poster goal’, adding that Reed ‘won't score another goal like that in his whole career’.
Meanwhile, Match of the Day (MOTD) host Gabby Logan said: “This was truly a magnificent goal. Harrison Reed coming with heroics of Harrison Ford.”
Ex-Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given was a guest on Sunday’s MOTD show. He said: “I think [Fulham manager] Marco Silva brought him on to bring a bit of balance to the midfield.
“It is just a phenomenal strike. It’s quite funny that, afterwards, Harrison said he practiced this in training.
"It’s Roy of the Rovers stuff. It’s got that much dip and movement, [Liverpool goalkeeper] Alisson has absolutely no chance.
"It’s an unbelievable strike."
Born in Findon, Reed attended Laurels First School, the Orchards Middle School and then Durrington High School. He played locally for Worthing Rebels, and Worthing Minors, before joining Southampton.
After seven years at the Saints – which also saw him spend time on loan at Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers and Fulham – Reed signed for the latter in 2020.
Reed – who has represented England at youth level – remains connected to his roots.
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