Erling Haaland Joins Henry, Kane, and Owen in Premier League's Hat-Trick Elite

Manchester City forward Erling Haaland is rapidly climbing the ranks of Premier League legends. The Norwegian striker has already amassed seven goals in the first three games of the season, making him a leading contender for the Golden Boot once again. Since joining City in 2022, Haaland’s impressive goal-scoring record has seen him join a prestigious list of players with multiple hat-tricks in the league.

Haaland's Rise to Premier League Stardom

It didn’t take long for Haaland to make his mark in English football. In his debut season, the former Borussia Dortmund striker wasted no time, scoring his first Premier League hat-trick against Crystal Palace in 2022. He followed it up with a hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in the very next match. Haaland’s relentless scoring continued throughout the season, with notable performances like his three-goal haul against Manchester United, alongside a treble from his teammate Phil Foden.

By 2023, Wolverhampton Wanderers fell victim to his goal-scoring exploits. But in a matter of weeks, Haaland achieved something special: back-to-back hat-tricks. First, he scored against Ipswich Town, and just yesterday, he added West Ham United to his list of conquered teams. This recent hat-trick propelled Haaland into fourth place on the Premier League all-time hat-trick leaderboard.

Breaking Records at Lightning Speed

Haaland’s rapid accumulation of hat-tricks is nothing short of extraordinary. At just 23 years old, he has now equaled legendary figures such as Thierry Henry, Harry Kane, and Michael Owen in terms of hat-tricks scored. But what sets Haaland apart is the speed at which he’s reaching these milestones. For instance, Sergio Aguero, who holds the Premier League record with 12 hat-tricks, took 275 games to achieve that feat. Haaland, on the other hand, has already netted eight hat-tricks in far fewer appearances.

At this rate, it’s entirely possible that Haaland could surpass Aguero’s record before even reaching 100 Premier League matches. His efficiency and clinical finishing make him one of the most lethal forwards the league has ever seen.

Future Prospects: More Hat-Tricks on the Horizon?

With Manchester City maintaining their perfect record in the Premier League so far, Haaland shows no signs of slowing down. The next opportunity for him to add to his tally will be when City host Brentford. Given Haaland’s current form, another hat-trick could be on the cards. However, with City’s involvement in multiple competitions, including cup fixtures, there is a chance that Pep Guardiola may opt to rest his star striker to manage his workload.

Despite potential rotation, if Haaland continues to play in the Premier League for an extended period, it is almost a certainty that he will claim the top spot in the hat-trick leaderboard. With every match, Haaland further solidifies his place among the greatest goal-scorers in Premier League history, and it’s only a matter of time before he rewrites the record books.