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Robin van Persie: Top five Manchester United goals

Ahead of his move to Fenerbahce, Sports Mole picks out Robin van Persie's top five goals from his stint with Manchester United.

We still await official confirmation, but Robin van Persie is all but a Fenerbahce player.

The Dutchman, who has spent the last three years with Manchester United, arrived in Istanbul yesterday to put the finishing touches to his move.

In total, the 31-year-old scored 58 goals for the Red Devils and here, Sports Mole has selected five of the most memorable.


5. Hull City (November 2014)

Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin van Persie (L) celebrates scoring their third goal with Manchester United's English striker Wayne Rooney (R) during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Hull City at Old Trafford i© Getty Images

A week earlier, Van Persie's performance against his former club Arsenal was described by United manager Louis van Gaal as "very bad". It was the latest in a long line of criticism that had been aimed at the striker since the start of the 2014-15 campaign.

However, he silenced some of the doubters with this strike in the 66th minute to secure a 3-0 win for the home team at Old Trafford. Having inherited possession from Ander Herrera 20 yards from goal, Van Persie made himself enough space to lash a rising left footed shot into the roof of Allan McGregor's net.



4. Fulham (August 2012)

Manchester United's Dutch forward Robin van Persie (L) scores during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford in Manchester on August 25, 2012© Getty Images

There was much excitement among United fans following Van Persie's arrival and he instantly showed that he could cope with the expectation on his home debut.

Damien Duff had shocked Old Trafford by giving Fulham an early lead, but in the 10th minute, United's new number 20 struck. With visiting defender Brede Hangeland close by, Van Persie met Patrice Evra's cross after one bounce to produce a finish that swerved away from a helpless Mark Schwarzer in the away side's goal.


3. West Ham United (January 2013)

Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin Van Persie (L) shoots to score his late equalizing goal during the English FA Cup third round football match between West Ham United and Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground, Upton Park, in East London on January © Getty Images

Despite having taken the lead through Tom Cleverley, a double from West Ham centre-back James Collins at Upton Park appeared to have knocked Sir Alex Ferguson's men out of the FA Cup in the third round.

But, deep into stoppage time, substitute Ryan Giggs picked out Van Persie's run with a pinpoint long-range pass. His first touch, which was immaculate, took the centre-forward away from West Ham's James Tomkins and then as goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen approached, Van Persie used his weaker right foot to fire a shot into the bottom corner of the net.


2. Manchester City (December 2012)

Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin Van Persie celebrates scoring his late winning goal in the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Manchester United at The Etihad stadium in Manchester, north-west England on December 9, 2© Getty Images

This may not be number one on the list, but in terms of importance, Van Persie did not score many more significant goals in United colours. Wayne Rooney had given the visitors a two-goal lead at the Etihad Stadium, but they were pegged back in the second half.

Yet, just as the Manchester derby looked to be ending in a 2-2 draw, Van Persie made himself a hero among the United faithful. His free kick in the second minute of injury time took a deflection off Samir Nasri in the City wall, which was enough to get the better of Joe Hart. It was his 14th goal of the season and sent United six points clear of their neighbours at the top of the table.



1. Aston Villa (April 2013)

Robin van Persie of Manchester United scores his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford on April 22, 2013© Getty Images

It was somewhat fitting that the man who had scored so many goals during United's title-winning 2012-13 campaign would secure the trophy for the club.

Van Persie had actually been slightly out of form heading into the contest with Villa, having found the net just twice in his previous seven outings. He put that to one side, though, as he scored a first-half hat-trick in a 3-0 win, the second of which won the Goal of the Season award. Picked out by Rooney with a lofted pass, he hit an unstoppable volley from the edge of the area that left Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan rooted to the spot.


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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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