Cole Palmer reached another new height in an incredible debut season at Chelsea after the forward hit a hat-trick in his side’s 4-3 win over Manchester United this week.
Palmer’s first-ever Premier League treble – which included two goals deep into stoppage time with Chelsea trailing in the added period – downed the side he grew up supporting in a thrilling contest at Stamford Bridge.
The 21-year-old has become only the eighth player to score a Premier League hat-trick against Manchester United and we’ve remembered each of the players to have achieved the feat.
David Bentley (2006)
David Bentley scored the first-ever Premier League hat-trick against Manchester United as Blackburn edged their North-West rivals 4-3 in a thriller in 2006.
It took until the Premier League’s 14th season for a player to net a treble against the Red Devils, with a brilliant Bentley performance inspiring Blackburn to a memorable win. An end-to-end game saw the winger turn in a rebound after Edwin van der Sar had spilled a free-kick, before scoring a second to restore Rovers’ advantage after an awful defensive mistake from Rio Ferdinand.
????️ #OnThisDay: 2006
???? A hat-trick for David Bentley as #Rovers edge a seven-goal thriller against Manchester United at Ewood Park!
????⚪️ pic.twitter.com/KoKSozLr9i
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) February 1, 2021
After Lucas Neill’s penalty made it 3-1 to Blackburn, Bentley completed his hat-trick after drilling in a bouncing ball to send Ewood Park into dreamland. The hosts held on despite two late goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy, to edge a seven-goal contest.
Bentley’s hat-trick was the first scored against United in the top-flight since QPR’s Dennis Bailey on January 1st 1992.
Dirk Kuyt (2011)
Dirk Kuyt became a fan favourite for his work ethic at Liverpool and reaped the rewards of his effort against Manchester United in 2011. The Dutch forward scored all three goals in a 3-1 win at Anfield, in perhaps the easiest Premier League hat-trick ever scored.
Kuyt’s three goals came from around six yards combined, showing the benefit of being alert inside the area. It was a case of right place, right time for Kuyt, who became the first Liverpool player to score a treble against Manchester United in 21 years.
It’s a hat-trick for Dirk Kuyt! ☄️????????
????️ #OnThisDay in 2011… pic.twitter.com/bpOy201uJj
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 6, 2018
Romelu Lukaku (2013)
Sir Alex Ferguson’s final game in charge of Manchester United was a bonkers contest at The Hawthorns, as the Red Devils and West Brom shared 10 goals in an astonishing 5-5 draw.
Ferguson’s farewell appeared set to end in three points as United led 5-2 heading into the final nine minutes, but the Baggies produced a stirring comeback to earn a point.
On-loan Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku – who had scored earlier in the game and would later sign for Manchester United in 2017 – scored twice in the closing stages to complete his hat-trick and rescue a result.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s last #PL match in charge of @ManUtd was a rollercoaster of emotions, with plenty of goals…#PLMoments pic.twitter.com/4IM8jSJO0b
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 15, 2016
Samuel Eto’o (2014)
Samuel Eto’o was perhaps past his peak when he arrived in the Premier League, but Jose Mourinho knew what he was getting from the Cameroonian, having won a treble at Inter Milan together.
Eto’o’s sole season with Chelsea saw him score nine Premier League goals, including a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
#OnThisDay in 2014, Samuel Eto’o bagged a hat-trick as we beat Manchester United 3-1! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/xfvymuFueI
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 19, 2024
The veteran striker scored twice in the first half, with his opener looping over David de Gea, before completing his treble shortly after the interval after reacting quickest to a loose ball.
Noughties Nines: Samuel Eto’o – The clinical Cameroonian who conquered Europe
Mohamed Salah (2021)
Mohamed Salah became the first opposition player to score a Premier League hat-trick at Old Trafford as Liverpool delivered a brutal performance against Manchester United in 2021.
Salah struck three times as the Reds ran riot, racing into a four-goal lead before half-time. After Naby Keita and Diogo Jota had opened the scoring for Liverpool, Salah took centre stage in a punishing performance.
Salah emphatically converted his first from Keita’s cross and hit his second of the game with a low effort. His hat-trick was completed five minutes after the restart as he raced onto Jordan Henderson’s superb pass in behind to claim the match ball.
Hat-trick ✅ Assist ✅ Player of the Match ✅@MoSalah’s performance on Sunday simply had it all ???? pic.twitter.com/0A4pEwZ8m9
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 26, 2021
The Egyptian became only the second Liverpool player to score a hat-trick at Old Trafford, following Fred Howe in 1936. No other away player has achieved the feat in the Premier League era.
Erling Haaland (2022)
Erling Haaland’s first season at Manchester City saw records tumble, with the Norwegian fast emerging as a Premier League phenomenon. Haaland became the first player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick in three consecutive home games, with the third arriving in the Manchester Derby.
The forward was at his ruthless best as City swept aside their cross-town neighbours, with Haaland scoring three goals and creating two more in a 6-3 win for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Phil Foden (2022)
Phil Foden and Haaland became only the third Premier League teammates to score hat-tricks in the same game, with the former also a treble scorer in Manchester City’s 6-3 win over Manchester United in 2022.
Only Arsenal’s Robert Pires and Jermaine Pennant, and Leicester’s Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez, had ever each scored Premier League hat-tricks as teammates.
Foden opened the scoring in the Derby on eight minutes, before being set up for a simple finish by Haaland for his second. The England international completed his hat-trick – the first of his career – with City’s sixth of the game.
A first hat-trick for @PhilFoden ????????#ManCity pic.twitter.com/bqFtUKGTU1
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 2, 2022
Cole Palmer (2024)
Cole Palmer has become only the eighth player to score a Premier League hat-trick against Manchester United after starring during Chelsea’s 4-3 win this week.
Palmer has been one of the signings of the season at Chelsea and enhanced his growing reputation with another match-winning outing, scoring three times to earn Mauricio Pochettino’s side a much-needed win.
The 21-year-old’s treble included two goals scored within 82 seconds in stoppage time, including a 111th-minute winner, as Stamford Bridge erupted around him. Another huge high in a breakout season for Palmer.
Cole Palmer with his first senior hat-trick ball ⚽️#CHEMUN pic.twitter.com/MztlKPgOwV
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 4, 2024
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