Five of the Best Michael Owen hat-tricks

18th November 1997, Liverpool 3-0 Grimsby

Some seven months before Owen would announce himself on the world stage with that goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, the young striker notched his first professional hat-trick in a fourth round League Cup game against Grimsby Town. He put the Reds in front at Anfield midway through the first half, then added a second from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time. He completed a 29 minute hat-trick in the 57th minute, to send Liverpool through.

14th February 1998, Sheffield Wednesday 3-3 Liverpool

Free-scoring Owen, who finished joint top scorer in the Premier League with 18 goals in 1997-98, bagged his first league hat-trick against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. His trio of goals rescued a point for the Reds in Sheffield, after they had fallen behind to an early Benito Carbone goal, Owen levelled things up at the break. Paolo Di Canio and Andy Hinchcliffe gave Wednesday a 3-1 lead, before Owen bagged two goals in five minutes midway through the second half. The end of the season saw Owen crowned PFA Young Player of the Year.

1st September 2001, Germany 1-5 England

Arguably Owen's finest moment came in Munich, as England stunned the international game with a 5-1 thrashing of Germany in a World Cup qualifier. Germany had only ever lost one World Cup qualifier at home in their history, but they were ripped apart by England, despite taking an early lead through Carsten Jancker. Owen's first came after Steven Gerrard nodded down a cross, with Oliver Kahn out of position for the striker to fire home. After Gerrard scored a second, Owen fired home on the half volley after Emile Heskey's nod down, and he completed his hat-trick, racing on to a pinpoint pass by Gerrard and clinically lofting the ball over Kahn.

31st May 2005, Colombia 2-3 England

Although not as important as his previous hat-trick for England, Owen showed his class with this treble on a tour of America. Joe Cole set him up for his first, which was expertly clipped past Colombian goalkeeper Mondragon, and his second came as a result of a quick-taken free-kick by Peter Crouch. And just before the hour mark, Owen completed his hat-trick as he got to David Beckham's near post cross to volley home. The treble saw him move up to fourth in the all-time England goalscorers list.

17th December 2005, West Ham 2-4 Newcastle

Owen notched a so-called "perfect" hat-trick at Upton Park, scoring with his left foot, his right foot and his head as Newcastle defeated West Ham 4-2, in what was his first hat-trick for the Magpies. He took his first well, controlling a difficult pass by Alan Shearer and slotting in to the net, before he nodded home from Nolberto Solano's cross. His third came near the end as West Ham pressed for an equaliser, Newcastle hit them on the break and Amdy Faye's pass released Owen to slide the ball past Hammers goalkeeper Roy Carroll.

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