One Half Wonders: Premier League Footballers Who Have Scored The Most Goals In One Half
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One Half Wonders: Premier League Footballers Who Have Scored The Most Goals In One Half

28/09/24 22:59

Cole Palmer joins a list amongst some of the greats in the Premier League. Palmer bagged 4 goals in 20 minutes against Brighton this afternoon in a dominating 4-2 affair at Stamford Bridge.

Cole Palmer not only joins a list alongside some of the best strikers in the world during their time, but he has also made history and has become the first goalscorer to score 4 in the first half of a Premier League fixture. With that being said, let’s take a look at the other recent players who have scored 4 goals or more in one half of a Premier League match:

Jermain Defoe - 5 goals against Wigan Athletic 2009/10

A legend of the Barclays Premier League era, Jermain Defoe and co. completely dismantled a suffering Wigan side.

Defoe’s first goal came in the 51st minute and quickly completed his rapid hat trick by scoring in the 54th and 58th minute and at this time, that was the second fastest hat trick in Premier League history. Then creating history in the 69th minute before becoming the first to ever score 5 in one match in the 87th minute.

A Tottenham side that was stacked with the likes of Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon, Niko Kranjcar and more, it comes to more of a surprise as to how this side never carried on their winning ways from their previously won League Cup Final victory in 2008, the last trophy that they won, unless you really want to count the AUDI Cup…

Sergio Aguero - 5 goals against Newcastle United 2015/16

Where do you even start with this man? Without being biassed, this man will remain to be one of the best to ever touch down on English soil and he has proven that at every given opportunity that the critics came crawling.

Aguero scored 5 against a very different Newcastle side that we all know today. This fixture came in the 2015/16 season. Aguero single handedly battered Newcastle as his 5 goals saw Manchester City come out 6-1 on top at the Etihad Stadium.

City were 1-0 to a Mitrovic strike but Aguero replied shortly after taking it 1-1 into the break, but once the second half started, the floodgates opened. Aguero’s remaining 4 goals came in between the 49th and 62nd minute. The lethal Argentine went on to score 24 goals that season, his second best tally in a Mancunian Blue shirt, his best coming a year prior where he scored 26.

Sergio Aguero - 4 goals against Leicester City 2017/18

Sergio Aguero made history only a few seasons later after his antics against Newcastle. This time only, yes…only, scoring 4 goals but this time against Leicester City.

An in-form Manchester City took advantage of a Leicester side that had gone from winning the Premier League in one of the most historic seasons ever, to fighting for their lives to stay up in the league and not go back down to the Championship.

All of Aguero’s goals came in the second half and what was thought to be a close 1-1 game going into half time, Aguero showed that his side is a force not to be reckoned with and single handedly sent the East Midlands side packing with his goals spreading out across the second half.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - 4 goals against Nottingham Forest 1998/99

Going back to the earlier years of the Premier League and to the dominant years of Manchester United that once lived. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United completely disarmed Nottingham Forest in an 8-1 victory away from home.

Probably the most impressive mention on this list as Solskjaer was a substitute used in the 71st minute for Manchester United and was able to score 4 goals in the space of 10 minutes starting in the 80th minute and scoring his final in the 90th minute.

The Nord became the first player to score 4 goals as a substitute in the history of the Premier League. This was the last time that Solskjaer played Nottingham Forest and in previous fixtures the striker had only managed to score a combined 2 goals and 1 assist.

Cole Palmer - 4 goals against Brighton 2024/25

Cole Palmer aka Cold Palmer carried his side on his back against Brighton in a convincing 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge. Palmer has stolen the headlines today after his 4 goals has created history as he is the first footballer to score that many goals in the first half of Premier League football.

Goals in the 21st minute, up til the 41st, Palmer scored a direct free kick that struck the top right corner, converted a fantastic penalty and assists from Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho and Nicolas Jackson helped Cole Palmer create history.

The England international has been Chelsea’s star man for the best part of a year and has been on fire ever since, not to forget his efforts for England in the meantime too. The 21 year old moved from Manchester City for a 40 million fee and shows no sign of stopping as his form continues to rise.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Charlie Tate | Writer at Football Park

Discover Charlie Tate, a Football Park writer sharing insightful football content every week. Explore his experience here.

English Premier League
29/09/24 15:30
Manchester United

Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur

29/10
Draw

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