Liverpool's Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez produced one of the best individual Premier League performances in history to tear apart Norwich City in a 5-1 win on Wednesday night.
He scored four goals and set up the other, which got Sports Mole thinking, what are the best hat-tricks in Premier League history? Here are five of our favourites.
1. Dennis Bergkamp: Leicester City 3-3 Arsenal, August 1997
If you claimed that this was the best hat-trick in Premier League history, you probably would not get too many complaints. The Dutch magician Dennis Bergkamp showed every ounce of his class in a pulsating 3-3 draw against Leicester City at Filbert Street. His first was a wonderful curled finish from the edge of the box after a training ground corner from Marc Overmars.
With the second he took a good touch to go one-on-one with Kasey Keller and with a little luck looped it over the goalkeeper and in. Then came the third. Oh, the third. With time running out, Bergkamp took a ball over his shoulder. He took it down with his first touch, flicked it over the defender with his second and buried it with his third. A goal of the highest standard.
2. Luis Suarez: Liverpool 5-1 Norwich, December 2013
Before this game against Norwich City, Suarez had hit seven goals in three games against the Canaries. Any fears of the same for the visitors had well and truly become reality for them by full time. Suarez hit four and assisted another in a quite magnificent display. Every one of his goals was out of the top drawer.
His first was a staggering half-volley from 40 yards over John Ruddy. The second a neat left-footed finish from a corner, before he showed technique and power to flick the ball up before half-volleying into the bottom corner. For good measure, he added a 25-yard free kick in the second half.
3. Kanu: Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal, October 1999
It is difficult to say just what is the best bit about this fantastic hat-trick. Whether it is the sheer class of the goals from Kanu in his prime, or the fact that he came off the bench to salvage an unlikely win from the jaws of defeat when Arsenal were 2-0 down away to Chelsea.
Without analysing too much, this is just a brilliant display of football at its best. His first came with just over 15 minutes left, as he prodded in after some neat football. As Chelsea's defending got ever desperate, Davor Suker headed to Kanu, who sent Overmars away down the right. The Dutchman eventually managed to cross and Kanu took a superb touch out of his feet to lash in the equaliser.
He saved the best for last, of course, as he then scored the winner from an impossible angle on the left byline. He blocked a clearance before going round Ed de Goey and clipping into the net from just inside the box.
4. Robbie Fowler: Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal, August 1994
This one makes the cut for the sheer speed. It was, and still is, the Premier League's fastest ever hat-trick and was timed at a remarkable four minutes and 33 seconds. It is unlikely anyone will score a faster Premier League treble.
If anyone in the crowd had decided to grab some food during these five first-half minutes they will have missed all the goals in the game. His first was a typical Robbie Fowler goal, sweeping in from close range after the ball had fallen to him. He then finished low after finding space in the box and the result was complete moments later as he bundled the ball in from the goal line.
5. Mark Viduka: Leeds United 4-3 Liverpool, November 2000
Leeds United historically had never performed well against Liverpool and it was looking that way again as they were 2-0 down before 20 minutes were up. However, the difference on that day was Mark Viduka, who scored all four of Leeds's goals in a 4-3 win.
Just after half time he had levelled the scores; the first goal a neat chip after a mistake from Christian Ziege and the second a typical near-post header. Liverpool went back ahead, but Viduka was not done. He took a pass from Olivier Dacourt, spun in the box and fired a low equaliser, but there was time for more drama. Just two minutes after the equaliser he netted the winner with a sublime touch and chip.
Matt Domm
