Though the match may be remembered for countless other reasons, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer became the 200th different player to score a Premier League hat-trick during their 4-3 victory over Manchester United on Thursday.
So, for your pleasure, here are the (subjectively) most important hat-trick milestone numbers.
Hat-Trick Scorer #1: Eric Cantona
Leeds vs Tottenham (August 1992)
A staple answer for pub quiz questions in years gone by, Eric Cantona was the first-ever player to score a Premier League hat-trick.
He did so in Leeds United’s 5-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur early in the 1992-93 campaign, and it proved to be the mercurial Frenchman’s only treble in the competition.
It was apt that the first hat-trick should be scored by a character whose influence on the competition can never be understated, and for the reigning champions.
Incidentally, in the reverse meeting between the sides, Teddy Sheringham became the competition’s sixth different hat-trick scorer – and neither player finished the season playing for the side they started it with.
Hat-Trick Scorer #17: Efan Ekoku
Norwich vs Everton (September 1993)
Ah, that well-known milestone number 17. While it’s obviously not an important number overall, Ekoku became the first player to score four goals in a Premier League match in Norwich’s 5-1 victory at Goodison Park.
While he was born in Manchester, Ekoku represented Nigeria at international level, which also makes him the first African player to score a Premier League hat-trick. Two milestones for the price of one, great value in East Anglia.
Hat-Trick Scorer #36: Fabrizio Ravanelli
Middlesbrough vs Liverpool (August 1996)
Another one that has become (or at least should be) a staple for pub quizzes – in the opening game of the 1996-97, Ravanelli became the first (and remains the only) player to score a hat-trick on his Premier League debut.
He did so in a 3-3 draw against Liverpool, having joined Middlesbrough on the back of winning the UEFA Champions League with Juventus.
His first season in England would not go so well, with Boro losing both domestic cup finals and suffering relegation to the second tier.
Hat-Trick Scorer #50: Michael Owen
Liverpool vs Sheffield Wednesday (February 1998)
Finally, a proper milestone number.
In a 3-3 draw at Hillsborough, Michael Owen became the 50th player to score a Premier League hat-trick, but the fun doesn’t stop there. At just 18 years and 62 days on the day of the game, he became (and remains) the youngest-ever player to score a hat-trick in the competition.
In wearing the number 18 shirt, he became the first player to score a hat-trick at an age that corresponded to his shirt number, while the third goal of his treble was also his 18th in all competitions for Liverpool.
Hat-Trick Scorers #77 and #78: Jermaine Pennant and Robert Pires
Arsenal vs Southampton (May 2003)
Another two-for-one offer. Just a few days after surrendering their Premier League crown to Manchester United, Arsenal beat Southampton 6-1 to embark on the longest unbeaten run in English top-flight history.
In this victory, the Gunners became the first side to have two players score Premier League hat-tricks in the same match – Jermaine Pennant netted his in the first half (doing so on this first-ever start in the competition), while Pires completed his after half-time with a sublime long-range effort.
Hat-Trick Scorer #100: John Carew
Aston Villa vs Newcastle (February 2008)
We can’t say this is one we’ve ever noticed come up in pub quizzes, but if it does then now you know.
The 100th player to score a Premier League hat-trick was John Carew as Aston Villa came from 1-0 down to beat Newcastle 4-1.
The Magpies had opened the scoring in the fourth minute, with a goal from Owen, who as those who were paying attention will know, was the 50th player to score a hat-trick in the competition.
Hat-Trick Scorer #125: Sergio Agüero
Manchester City vs Wigan (September 2011)
While 125 is a milestone number of sorts, the player that scored it is more important.
Sergio Aguero netted his first Premier League treble in this match and would go on to score 12 overall – the most hat-tricks in Premier League history by a single player. And as Forrest Gump famously said, that’s all I have to say about that.
Hat-Trick Scorer #150: Callum Wilson
Bournemouth vs West Ham (August 2015)
Hat-trick scorer 150 was Callum Wilson, netting a treble as Bournemouth earned their first ever top-flight victory with a 4-3 win at West Ham.
It was the Hammers’ second consecutive home defeat to start the season in what was their last ever campaign at Upton Park, but they would only lose one more league game at home all season.
For Wilson, it was the start of a passionate love affair of scoring against West Ham, with the now-Newcastle striker scoring more goals against the Hammers than any other side (12).
Hat-Trick Scorer #200: Cole Palmer
Chelsea vs Manchester United (April 2024)
And that brings us to the most recent, player number 200: Cole Palmer.
His hat-trick goal in Chelsea’s 4-3 win over Manchester United was the latest winning goal on record in a Premier League game. It was also the second Premier League hat-trick Man Utd have conceded in London, with the other also coming at Chelsea some 10 years earlier (player number 140, Samuel Eto’o).
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