EPL Player Of The Week: A Rare Defensive Hat-Trick With Accurate Assists
It is time to crown our standout player in the Premier League from an exciting weekend of action.
In his 157th Premier League appearance, the Newcastle right-back claimed a career first in their 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United.
Trippier was directly responsible for three of those goals, providing a hat-trick of assists for the first time.
His first from a deep corner was met by a thumping Dan Burn header before an inch-perfect free-kick from the right was steered home by Sven Botman for his first Magpies goal.
In the second half, he claimed an open play assist by overlapping to pick out Callum Wilson to nod in from close range.
Only Jason Puncheon previously provided three assists in a Premier League game which all resulted in headed finishes, while Trippier is the first Newcastle man to achieve the feat since Allan Saint-Maximin three years ago.
Even after a game which his side won 8-0 in a true collective effort with eight different scorers finding the net, special praise was reserved for the former Atlético de Madrid man by his manager afterwards.
“Kieran is one of my best ever signings. I’m delighted to have signed a player of his quality twice in my career,” Eddie Howe said of Trippier.
“I signed him very early at Burnley and straight away, his delivery and crossing ability were among the best I’d seen, whether it’s from a static ball, a set-piece or a moving ball.
“He sets the tone for us. His mentality is excellent. He never stops and leads this team so well.”
Over the last eight seasons, only three defenders have managed a hat-trick of assists in a single league game, with Trippier joining good company with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker-Peters.
He is also only the fourth Newcastle man ever to do it too.
A reminder that just £12m was spent to bring him to the north east from Spain.
