Rooney’s Champions League hat-trick

Oliver Kay picks Wayne Rooney’s Champions League hat-trick for Manchester United against Fenerbahce on 28 September 2004. The 18-year-old scored three goals from outside the area, including an exquisite free kick, just weeks after joining from Everton.

Aguero announces himself

Thom Harris highlights Sergio Aguero’s debut for Manchester City against Swansea City on 15 August 2011. Aguero scored twice, including a 25-yard thunderbolt, giving a glimpse of the title-winning years to come with assists from Micah Richards and David Silva.

Memorable firsts

Steve Madeley remembers Paul Merson’s Walsall debut in 2003, with two long-range strikes against West Brom. Eduardo Tansley recalls Edin Dzeko’s debut for Manchester City against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2011, where the striker assisted Yaya Toure after a one-two with Carlos Tevez.

Amelie Claydon cites Pedro’s Chelsea debut in 2015, scoring and assisting Diego Costa against West Brom, while Beren Cross recalls Ben White’s composed display for Leeds against Bristol City in 2019, a performance that foreshadowed the Championship title.

Other picks include Samu Saiz’s hat-trick for Leeds against Port Vale, Jose Dominguez’s reserve-team display for Birmingham, Christian Eriksen’s emotional return for Brentford, and Eden Hazard’s two assists on his Premier League debut for Chelsea against Wigan, where Frank Lampard converted a penalty won after Ivan Ramis fouled Hazard.