On November 18th 1997, a 17-year-old Michael Owen scored the first hat-trick of his illustrious Liverpool career, in a League Cup tie against Grimsby at Anfield. Henry Jackson looks at Owen’s 10 trebles in a Reds shirt.
LIVERPOOL 3-0 GRIMSBY- November 18th 1997
Owen was still just a few months into his Liverpool career when he scored his first hat-trick for the Reds.
Admittedly the opposition on the night wasn’t top class, but Owen still oozed quality in front of the Anfield faithful. His first was a close-range effort after Jamie Redknapp’s shot was parried, and he doubled his tally with a penalty just before the break. He completed his hat-trick with a terrific 20-yard effort after the break.
SHEFF WED 3-3 LIVERPOOL- February 14th 1998
The Reds may not have picked up all three points on the day, but Owen’s treble helped them recover from a 3-1 deficit at Hillsborough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4bSlGN9Njg
He levelled things up at 1-1 with a typical Owen goal; running onto a Steve Mcmanaman pass and producing a terrific finish with the outside of his foot. Then, with Wednesday 3-1 up with less than twenty minutes to go, the 18-year-old came to his side’s rescue yet again. First, he showed composure to tuck the ball away after Robbie Fowler’s effort had struck the post, then he completed the scoring with another nerveless finish from Paul Ince’s through ball.
NEWCASTLE 1-4 LIVERPOOL- August 30th 1998
This remains one of Owen’s most impressive hat-tricks during his time at Liverpool, and it was Newcastle who were torn apart by the English superstar on the day.
Two clinical efforts from close range in as many minutes put the Reds in total command early on, and although the deficit was halved at one point, the win never looked in doubt. Owen completed his hat-trick after a dazzling run, nonchalantly clipping the beyond Shay Given. There were only 32 minutes gone, and Patrik Berger added a fourth for good measure just before half-time.
LIVERPOOL 5-1 NOTTS FOREST- October 24th 1998
By now Owen was a superstar for both club and country, and scored four goals for the first time in his career against a helpless Forest side.
A terrific curled effort opened the scoring, while a low left-footed finish put the Reds 3-1 up, after Mcmanaman and Dougie Freedman had traded goals earlier in the half. A second half penalty and another poachers effort made it a day to remember for the former Anfield hero.
LIVERPOOL 3-1 ASTON VILLA- September 6th 2000
This routine victory over Villa back in 2000 was wrapped up by Owen within 33 minutes, as the young Englishman scored his first Liverpool hat-trick in almost two years.
It wasn’t his most fluid treble in a Reds shirt, with the first finding its way in via Ugo Ehiogu. A rare header saw him score his second goal, and he got his third after a mistake by former ‘keeper David James. Steve Stone’s late strike was merely a consolation effort.
LIVERPOOL 3-0 NEWCASTLE- May 5th 2001
With the Reds is the midst of their treble-winning campaign of 2000/01, Owen was at the peak of his powers.
The Premier League season was drawing to a close, and the Reds’ striker inspired his team to a vital three points in their quest for Champions League football. Three ruthless efforts were enough to get past the Magpies, taking his tally to 12 goals in just six games against them.
HAKA 0-5 LIVERPOOL- August 8th 2001
This was probably the least memorable hat-trick of Owen’s career, but it did help the Reds qualify for the Champions League group stages.
All three of his goals were scored expertly in the second half, as Gerard Houllier’s side ran riot. Emile Heskey and Sami Hyypia also finding the back of the net.
MAN CITY 0-3 LIVERPOOL- September 28th 2002
Owen was under pressure going into this Premier League clash at Maine Road, having not scored from open play yet that season.
He silenced his critics in style, however, by firing three past former Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel. He scored early on after some woeful City defending, before netting another two in the second half, one from an outstanding Steven Gerrard pass.
SPARTAK MOSCOW 1-3 LIVERPOOL- October 22nd 2002
This was Owen’s first proper Champions League hat-trick, forgetting the three he scored against Haka in the third qualifying round.
After the Russian side has opened the scoring Owen, still only 22, equalised with a header. The game ebbed and flowed into the second half, before the diminutive striker scored two more in the final 20 minutes. They were his first Champions League goals in a year.
WEST BROM 0-6 LIVERPOOL- April 26th 2003
For the second time in his Liverpool career Owen scored four times, demolishing West Brom in the process.
His first came from a pass from fellow striker Milan Baros, who scored two on the day, before Owen netted his 100th Premier League goal. Two more crisp finishes wrapped up proceedings, and it would be the final time Owen would score a hat-trick in a Liverpool shirt.
What’s your favourite Michael Owen hat-trick?
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