While the English Premier League is one of the most challenging and popular domestic football leagues in the world, it is tough for the players to score goals regularly. However, some extraordinary players have dominated in the Premier League.
Here, we are going through the players with the most goals in one half in Premier League history.
4. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) - 4 Goals
Match: Chelsea 4-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Season: 2024/25
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer is the latest entry in this record book. During the 2024/25 season, while Chelsea beat Brighton and Hove Albion by 4-2, Palmer scored all four goals for his team in the first half. After scoring the equaliser in the 21st minute, Chelsea earned a 2-1 lead with his successful penalty conversion in the 28th minute. In the 31st minute, Palmer’s goal made the scoreline 3-1. Palmer scored his fourth goal of the match in the 41st minute which made the scoreline 4-2.
3. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) - 4 Goals (Twice)
First Match: Manchester City 6-1 Newcastle United
Season: 2015/16
Former Argentine striker Sergio Aguero recorded it twice. He scored four goals in one half twice in Premier League history. During the 2015/16 season, when Man City beat Newcastle United by 6-1 at home, Aguero actually scored five goals for his team. After scoring his first goal of the match in the 42nd minute, all his other four goals came in the second half (49’, 50’, 60’, and 62’). Although the visitors earned a 0-1 lead in the 18th minute, they had poor luck in the second half.
Second Match: Manchester City 5-1 Leicester City
Season: 2017/18
During the 2017/18 season, Aguero scored another four goals in one half in a 5-1 home win against Leicester City. After the second half started with a 1-1 scoreline, unstoppable Aguero scored the goals in the 48th minute, 53rd minute, 77th minute, and 90th minute.
2. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United) - 4 Goals
Match: Nottingham Forest 1-8 Manchester United
Season: 1998/99
Former Manchester United forward Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the first player to record four goals in one half in Premier League history. It was the 1998/99 season when Man United went to play against the hosts Nottingham Forest. Solskjaer joined the team in the 71st minute as a substitute player when the visitors were leading by 4-1. Solskjaer scored his first two goals in the 80th and 87th, and two more goals in the 90th minute to secure a 8-1 away win for Man United.
1. Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur) - 5 Goals
Match: Tottenham Hotspur 9-1 Wigan Athletic
Season: 2009/10
During the PL 2009/10 season, Tottenham Hotspur’s forward Jermain Defoe scored five goals in the second half against the visitors Wigan Athletic. He successfully netted in the 51st, 54th, and 58th minutes to complete his hat-trick. Later, he scored goals in the 69th minute and 87th minute to record five goals in that half. His domination helped the Spurs to win that home match by 9-1.
Table: Players to score most goals in one half in the Premier League
Player (Team) | Goals scored | Match score | Season |
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur) | 5 | Tottenham Hotspur 9 Wigan Athletic 1 | 2009/10 |
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United) | 4 | Nottingham Forest 1 Manchester United 8 | 1998/99 |
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) | 4 | Manchester City 6 Newcastle United 1 | 2015/16 |
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) | 4 | Manchester City 5 Leicester City 1 | 2017/18 |
Cole Palmer (Chelsea) | 4 | Chelsea 4 Brighton 2 | 2024/25 |
