Emre Can: Was Liverpool midfielder's overhead kick the goal of the season?
Another contender for best strike of the campaign emerges as Reds scrape a 1-0 win over Watford
Liverpool tightened their grip on their place in the top four with a 1-0 win over Watford, thanks to an outrageous goal from Emre Can, who scored with an overhead kick from the edge of the box.
It leaves Jurgen Klopp's side in third place with 69 points, three points above Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and crucially, four points ahead of Man United, who have also a game more to play.
However, it was Can's acrobatics rather than speculation about Premier League permutations that dominated the conversation after the game.
The 23-year-old midfielder's seventh goal in three years at Anfield will linger long in the memory. He on to an aerial ball from Lucas with his back to goal, but somehow swivelled in mid-air to hook a volley into the top corner.
It is a surefire contender for goal of the season, says the Daily Mail, "but it has been a season of fine goals in England's top flight.
"From Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Olivier Giroud to Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson, there are plenty to choose from".
A straw poll among the paper's football writers threw up several contenders for the title. Scorpion kicks from Giroud and Mkhitaryan and Carroll's scissor kick both won two votes, but Can was chosen as the winner with three votes.
"The technique of an overheard kick is the ultimate challenge," says Rob Draper. "And as he was running on to the ball and viewing it over his shoulder before he executed, I have to go with Can. Just superb."
Writers at the Daily Mirror highlight goals from European and domestic cup competition, as well as throwing up new challengers. However, Can gets the vote of John Cross.
"It was a cracker and so out of keeping with an awful first half," he says. "More difficult technique than a scorpion kick and a huge goal in Liverpool's season."
Despite the praise, Can's efforts may not even be the best Liverpool goal of the season, says the BBC, adding: "Liverpool have not been strangers to special goals this season - with midfielders Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum all winning Match of the Day's Goal of the Month competition."
