Senegalese star Sadio Mane took just two minutes and 56 seconds to score the quickest hat-trick in English Premier League history in his side's 6-1 rout of Aston Villa Saturday.
The pacey winger took advantage of Villa's defensive disarray to beat the previous best, the four minute 33 second triple by former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler against Arsenal in 1994.
Mane, a £10 million ($15.7m) signing from Red Bull Salzburg last year, opened his account in the 13th minute when he seized on a flick by Graziano Pelle and evaded two Villa defenders before finding the net via a lucky rebound off goalkeeper Shay Given.
It was to get worse for Villa as Ron Vlaar's misjudged backpass was intercepted by Shane Long, who found Mane for his second. The hat-trick goal showed Mane's quality as he curled home a shot from outside the penalty area.
Villa was five down inside 38 minutes as Long then helped himself to a double. Christian Benteke pulled one back for Villa just before halftime, but after the break Ronald Koeman's team added a sixth through Pelle off an assist from man of the Match Mane.
The 23-year-old professed his surprise when told about his new record. "Really? It is the fastest Premier League hat-trick? The most important thing today is the victory," he said. Koeman, whose unheralded side is closing on a Europe League place, was full of admiration for Mane. "It was incredible from Sadio Mane. A player like him, to get that kind of space, he will punish you," said the Dutchman.
The fastest hat-trick in English football was set by James Hayter when he scored three times in two minutes and 20 seconds after coming on as a late substitute for Bournemouth in a third tier match against Wrexham in 2004.
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