Harry Diamond
Scoring a hat-trick at the highest level is an accolade usually reserved for only the game’s very best, with England’s top tier having seen some great goalscorers achieve the feat throughout the years.
Sergio Aguero holds the record for the most Premier League trebles in the division’s history after the Argentine scored three times against Aston Villa earlier this season, but will the Manchester City star make our list of the league’s best ever hat-tricks?
Here are five of the greatest hat-tricks in Premier League history:
Dennis Bergkamp – Leicester v ARSENAL (August, 1997)
Often referred to as the greatest hat-trick the Premier League has seen, Bergkamp delivered a goalscoring masterclass during an entertaining 3-3 draw with Leicester at Filbert Street in August 1997.
The Dutchman is remembered as one of the most technically brilliant forwards of the modern era following a glittering decade in English football, with his treble against the Foxes Bergkamp at his vintage best.
Receiving a short corner on the edge of the penalty area, the Dutchman opened the scoring with a brilliant curling effort into the far corner, before doubling his tally in fortuitous style after ricocheting the ball past Kasey Keller when racing through on goal.
The forward saved his best until last, however, producing a magical moment of skill to put Arsene Wenger’s side ahead. Controlling a lofted pass in flawless fashion with his right foot, Bergkamp flicked the ball past the wrong-footed Matt Elliott with his left before steadying himself to finish past Keller.
Two of Bergkamp’s goals at Leicester were included in the top three of Match of the Day’s Goal of the Month, the Netherlands international becoming the first – and so far only – player to finish first, second and third in the competition, a brilliant beginning to a season which saw him crowned as the Footballer of the Year.
Thierry Henry – ARSENAL v Liverpool (April 2004)
Arsenal were heading towards a third league title under Arsene Wenger following a brilliant unbeaten campaign during the 2003/04 season, but their season – and undefeated record – faced a serious test after twice falling behind to Liverpool at Highbury in April.
The Gunners had conceded a late equaliser to title rivals Manchester United just a week earlier, and the prospect of a first defeat of the season threatened to derail what looked like a title procession.
Enter Thierry Henry.
The French forward enjoyed arguably his finest season in Arsenal colours during this campaign, and produced a scintillating display to turn the fixture on its head.
After scoring the north London side’s first equaliser with a fine left-footed finish past Jerzy Dudek, Arsenal had levelled for a second time courtesy of Robert Pires but needed further inspiration to find a winner.
Henry’s second came in glorious fashion, picking the ball up just inside the opposition half before breezing past a challenge from Dietmar Hamann. Another feint saw him beat Jamie Carragher inside the penalty area, before calmly finishing past Dudek to put Arsenal ahead.
He wrapped up a fine hat-trick and comeback victory with a third from Dennis Bergkamp’s pass late on, the PFA Player of the Year retaining the club’s unbeaten run in sublime style during the historic ‘Invincibles‘ season.
Dimitar Berbatov – MANCHESTER UNITED v Liverpool (September 2010)
Berbatov wrote himself into Manchester United folklore courtesy of a brilliant treble against arch-rivals Liverpool in 2010, becoming the first player in 64 years to score a hat-trick for the club in English football’s biggest fixture.
The Bulgarian international was the hero during a thrilling victory over the club’s Merseyside rivals a decade ago, opening the scoring with a clever header from Ryan Giggs’ corner, before doubling the lead in spectacular fashion with a sensational overhead kick.
Liverpool, however, fought back. Steven Gerrard scored twice for the visitors to set up a tense finish, but it was Berbatov who had the final say on a memorable afternoon at Old Trafford.
With just six minutes remaining, the forward rose highest to meet John O’Shea’s cross and score the winner, completing one of the most iconic trebles of the Premier League era.
Luis Suarez – LIVERPOOL v Norwich (December 2013)
When Luis Suarez left Liverpool to join Barcelona in 2014, many a Premier League defence were glad to see the back of the controversial Uruguayan – though none more so than Norwich City.
The Canaries had become the forward’s favoured opponents during a brilliant three-and-a-half year spell in the Premier League, Suarez scoring three hat-tricks against the East Anglian outfit including a sensational four-goal haul in December of 2013.
The first was arguably the best of the lot, a dipping effort from all of 35-yards before adding his second from close range following a corner. The forward’s renowned audacity was evident once more with a delightful third, flicking the ball past Leroy Fer before executing a perfect half-volley.
He completed his haul with a curling free-kick into the top corner, his display seeing Suarez become the first Liverpool player in history to score three league hat-tricks against the same club.
Sadio Mane – SOUTHAMPTON v Aston Villa (May 2015)
Scoring a Premier League hat-trick in 90 minutes is hugely impressive, but achieving the feat in less than three is quite frankly ridiculous.
That’s exactly what Sadio Mane managed during an emphatic victory for Southampton at St Mary’s five years ago, scoring three times in the space of 2 minutes and 56 seconds to write himself into the record books.
The Senegalese forward’s treble saw him eclipse Robbie Fowler’s previous landmark in some style, smashing a record that had stood for over two decades and one that now looks unlikely to ever be bettered.
Mane opened the scoring after 13 minutes from close range before making it two just seconds later, his treble wrapped up with a fine finish after being found in space by Shane Long on the edge of the penalty area.
The forward’s haul contributed to a 6-1 thrashing for the Saints, the Villa defence shellshocked after Mane’s quick-fire treble.
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