Harry Kane scores seventh Premier League hat trick in 3-0 Tottenham win
By Gary Pearson
Harry Kane, with his seventh Premier League hat trick, made sure Spurs will leave Burnley with their first away win in six Premier League fixtures.
Spurs’ marksman is now level with Wayne Rooney on seven hat tricks. Only Thierry Henry, Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler have scored more hat tricks than Kane. And let’s not forget that Kane is still only 24 years old.
With the three-goal outing, Kane pole vaulted to the top of the scoring chart. He has 15 top flight goals, moving into a share of first place with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. Ben Mee coughed up possession on Kane’s second goal, as Moussa Sissoko’s resulting through ball found Spurs top scorer.
Kane barrelled in on goal, easily passing the ball by an onrushing Nick Pope.
England’s best striker then showcased his unheralded slide-tackling ability as he dispossessed Burnley with an outstanding stretch tackle.
Moments later he broke into the box and finished with lethal precision to put the match well beyond Burnley.
Tottenham should have scored more, with Son Heung-Min spurning a great opportunity earlier in the second half.
First half
Whether Kevin Long’s challenge on Dele Alli was worthy of a penalty is now a moot point. Regardless of the penalty’s validity, the Burnley defender committed a cardinal sin by diving in on Alli.
Alli has built a reputation for going down easily, especially in the opposition’s box. In real-time it looked like a penalty, which was good enough for referee Michael Oliver, who immediately pointed to the spot.
Kane deposited the resulting penalty with supreme confidence, Spurs talisman scoring his 13th of the Premier League campaign to give his team the deserved lead.
While he won’t be credited for an assist on Tottenham’s opener, Alli did his utmost to add to his assist tally later in the first stanza. Spurs attacked on the counter with devastating pace, as Alli thread the needle for Moussa Sissoko, who should have scored his second of the season.
Pope made a decent double save on the Frenchman, whose inability to score from golden opportunities has become a theme this season.
Spurs early goal took the Turf Moor crowd out of the match early, precisely what Mauricio Pochettino had in mind prior to kickoff. Burnley were unable to muster an attempt on goal in the first 45 minutes, underpinning how well the visitors acquitted themselves from the off.
To go along with a better than one-goal-per game ratio in 2017, Kane now has 21 goals in 23 games this season. One more goal before the turn of the new year and Kane will set a record for most goals in a calendar year. Currently, he’s level with Alan Shearer on 36 goals.
Next: Mousa Dembele, Tottenham's wounded genius
Pochettino will be breathing a massive sigh of relief after mauling a Burnley side who are usually difficult to beat at Turf Moor. It’s the kind of domineering performance that should kickstart Spurs’ revival away from Wembley.
It’s going to be a Merry Christmas after all.