Harry Kane smashed Alan Shearer’s Premier League record for goals scored in a calendar year by hitting a hat-trick in Tottenham‘s 5-2 mauling of Southampton.
Kane needed only one goal to pass the 36 scored by Shearer in 1995 but the Spurs striker banged in three at Wembley to finish 2017 on an astonishing 39 goals in 36 league matches.
Dele Alli and Son Heung-min helped put Southampton out of sight in the second half despite Sofiane Boufal pulling one back at 4-0 and substitute Dusan Tadic reducing the deficit late on.
You’ve had a magnificent 2017 @HKane. You deserve to hold the record of most @premierleague goals in a calendar year. Well done and keep up the good work. 👏🏻🙋🏼♂️
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) December 26, 2017
Who else? All eyes were on Kane and whether he could find the one goal he needed to overtake Shearer and he rose to the occasion with another brilliant display of finishing. A word too for Danny Rose, who delivered one of his best performances since returning from injury.
One match ball. ⚽️
One Man of the Match. 🔥#OneOfOurOwn. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ky7TAT19oz
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 26, 2017
Kane has scored 39 Premier League goals in 36 games in 2017, beating the 36 Shearer scored in 42 games in 1995.
Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted for Kane but thrilled too that his side look to have brushed off that heavy defeat by Manchester City. They have now won five out of their last six matches.
For Mauricio Pellegrino, this was another thrashing he and his side could really have done without. Saints fans chanted ironically throughout the match but their team are sinking fast towards the relegation zone.
TOTTENHAM
Hugo Lloris 6 (out of 10)
Serge Aurier 5
Jan Vertonghen 5
Davinson Sanchez 5
Danny Rose 8
Eric Dier 7
Mousa Dembele 7
Dele Alli 7
Christian Eriksen 7
Son Heung-Min 8
Harry Kane 9
SUBS
Moussa Sissoko (for Dembele, 54) 6
Erik Lamela (for Son, 76) 6
Harry Winks (for Alli, 84) 6
SOUTHAMPTON
Fraser Forster 5
Jack Stephens 4
Maya Yoshida 4
Wesley Hoedt 4
Matt Targett 5
Oriol Romeu 3
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 5
Mario Lemina 6
Sofiane Boufal 6
Nathan Redmond 6
Shane Long 5
SUBS
Sam McQueen (for Targett, 77) 6
Manolo Gabbiadini (for Lemina, 63) 5
Dusan Tadic (for Redmond, 63) 6
WHO’S UP NEXT?
Swansea v Tottenham (Premier League, January 2)
Manchester United v Southampton (Premier League, December 30)
Provided by Press Association Sport