On the opening weekend of the 2019/20 Premier League season players will be hoping to emulate Didier Drogba and end a nine-year wait for a Matchweek 1 hat-trick.
While more than 100 trebles have been netted over the past nine seasons, including 11 by Sergio Aguero and eight by Harry Kane, Drogba's treble in Chelsea's 6-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on 14 August 2010 was the last to be scored in an opening-weekend fixture.
Everton's Richarlison, Liverpool's Sadio Mane and Watford's Roberto Pereyra came close at the start of last season.
They each scored twice against Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively.
But they were unable to join an exclusive group of just seven players.
Opening-weekend PL hat-tricks
| Player | Season | Club | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mick Quinn | 1993/94 | COV | ARS |
| Matt Le Tissier | 1995/96 | SOU | NFO |
| Kevin Campbell | 1996/97 | NFO | COV |
| Fabrizio Ravanelli | 1996/97 | MID | LIV |
| Dion Dublin | 1997/98 | COV | CHE |
| Gabriel Agbonlahor | 2008/09 | AVL | MCI |
| Didier Drogba | 2010/11 | CHE | WBA |
Interestingly, opening-weekend hat-tricks used to be a common theme.
After Mick Quinn claimed the very first one for Coventry City in 1993/94, four players followed suit over the next four seasons, including two on the same day when Kevin Campbell and Fabrizio Ravanelli both hit trebles on 17 August 1996.
But since then they have been a rarity.
Villa omen
Aston Villa may provide hope of ending the nine-year wait in 2019/20.
A Villa player was responsible for ending the longest-ever run without a Matchweek 1 hat-trick.
Gabriel Agbonlahor broke that 11-year hiatus in a 4-2 victory over Manchester City in 2008/09 and their fans will be hoping for an opening weekend as enjoyable as that when they mark their PL return with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur.