Romelu Lukaku's hat-trick against Manchester United sees him join exclusive club including Dirk Kuyt, David Bentley and Peter Beardsley
Romelu Lukaku’s hat-trick against Manchester United not only helped West Brom gain a point against the champions, but it put the striker on loan from Chelsea in the history books.
In Sir Alex Ferguson’s last game as United manager, the Belgian became just the sixth player to score a top-flight treble against the 71-year-old’s team – and just the third in the Premier League.
Here, Sportsmail looks back at the other famous five players to score a league hat-trick against Fergie’s United.
The two teams drew in the Charity Shield at the very start of the season, but there was only one side in it a month later when they met again at Anfield.
Peter Beardsley had arguably his finest match in a Liverpool shirt, with the game coming in the middle of a 10-match winning run for the Merseyside club.
Goals in the 11th, 32nd and 81st minute sealed the attacker’s treble with John Barnes also scoring in a memorable win for Kenny Dalglish’s team.
What happened next?Beardsley would cross Stanley Park to join Everton for two years at the end of the campaign, before switching to Newcastle for a four-season spell – the club he left to join Liverpool in 1987. Capped by England 59 times, Beardsley retired from the game in 1999.
Alan Smith – Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United (May 6, 1991)This year it was Arsenal giving Manchester United a guard of honour to mark Fergie’s final Premier League title, but it was a role reversal 22 years ago.
United welcomed the First Division winners on to the pitch at Highbury and were then played off the park by George Graham's side.
Alan Smith got the title celebrations off to a flier when he touched home a low Lee Dixon cross, before blasting a second goal past Gary Walsh later in the half.
The Gunners striker got his third in the second period from the penalty spot, with Steve Bruce getting on the score sheet for Ferguson’s side.
What happened next?After spending four more years at Highbury, Smith retired from the game and the former England international is now a regular pundit on Sky Sports.
Dennis Bailey – Manchester United 1-4 QPR (January 1, 1992)Arguably the pick of the bunch, Dennis Bailey’s treble against Manchester United would be the last against Ferguson's side in the top flight for 14 years.
It also set the backdrop for a second-half of the season collapse from the Red Devils who would be pipped to the First Division title by Leeds following this first home defeat of the season.
Super Hoop: Bailey scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford to knock Manchester United off their title surgeBailey’s goals in the fifth, 58th and 85th minute also make him the only player to score an opposition top-flight hat-trick at Old Trafford during Fergie’s reign. Ronaldo also netted three at Old Trafford for Real Madrid in Europe, so Bailey is in good company.
What happened next?Bailey soon fell out of favour in the early years of the Premier League and left QPR in 1995, going on to join a number of clubs before retiring in non-league football in 2006.
David Bentley – Blackburn 4-3 Manchester United (February 1, 2006)A night of firsts. It was the first Premier League treble against Manchester United, Bentley’s first hat-trick and the Blackburn star’s first game since joining permanently from Arsenal.
Bentley struck on 35 minutes after Edwin van der Sar failed to keep out Morten Gamst Pedersen’s free-kick, before doubling his tally six minutes later after pouncing on a mix-up between Van der Sar and Rio Ferdinand.
Hat-trick hero: David Bentley celebrates scoring against Manchester UnitedA Bentley half-volley in the second-half gave Blackburn a 4-1 lead, and despite two strikes from Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rovers held on for a famous win.
What happened next?Bentley would continue to shine for Blackburn and was tipped to replace David Beckham for England when he joined Tottenham for £15m in 2008. The midfielder has struggled to establish himself at White Hart Lane though and has been on loan in Russia and at Blackburn this season.
Dirk Kuyt - Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United (March 6, 2011)Not the prettiest of trebles but one Liverpool fans will remember for a long time. United went into the game having lost at Chelsea five days earlier but their old rivals were in no mood for sympathy at Anfield.
Or more specifically, Dirk Kuyt. The forward pounced with two poacher’s efforts in the first half to put Liverpool into a commanding lead, before following up on a Luis Suarez free-kick in the second-half to complete his hat-trick.
Poking home: Dirk Kuyt diverts the ball past Edwin van der SarThreesy does it: Dirk Kuyt celebrates his third goal against Manchester United
What happened next?Kuyt was already an established fan favourite at Anfield having joined in 2006, but the popular Dutchman left the club following the arrival of new manager Brendan Rodgers a year ago, and now features regularly for Fenerbahce.
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