Evan Ferguson became just the fourth player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick aged 18 or younger as the starlet stunned Newcastle to lead Brighton to a 3-1 win at home.
The 18-year-old striker opened the scoring for the Seagulls just shy of the half hour mark, pouncing on a poor spill from Nick Pope after Billy Gilmour’s venomous strike to grab his second goal of the campaign from close range.
Brighton controlled the game throughout and the Irishman added a second in the 65th minute, lining one up from long range and curling the ball into the far right-hand corner to beat an outstretched Pope.
Ferguson decided a brace wasn’t enough and completed a superb hat-trick five minutes later as his deflected effort off Fabian Schar wrong-footed the visiting goalkeeper, handing the hosts a 3-0 lead.
Callum Wilson added a consolation off the bench in added time (look away Pervis Estupinan FPL owners) to deny Brighton a clean sheet, but they won’t care with an impressive three points on the board to break into the top four.
After four games played, the Seagulls sit three points adrift league leaders Manchester City in fourth and Premier League betting sites hand them a 7/2 chance to finish in the Champions League spots this season.
Brighton Top Four Odds
- Manchester City @ 1/25
- Arsenal @ 1/3
- Liverpool @ 3/5
- Newcastle United @ 1/1
- Manchester United @ 5/4
- Chelsea @ 8/5
- Tottenham @ 3/1
- Brighton @ 7/2
RELATED: Europa League Group Draw: Brighton Handed Group Of Death; Liverpool Let Off Easy
What a GOAL from Evan Ferguson! 😍💫 pic.twitter.com/I6XjCaHPou
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 2, 2023
The dazzling youngster broke an array of records with his display, becoming just the second non-English player to hit ten Premier League goal involvements while aged 18 or younger to follow in the foosteps of Cesc Fabregas.
He’s also only the fourth player to score a Premier League hat-trick aged 18 or younger, alongside Chris Bart-Williams, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen.
Ferguson has scored 14 goals and added four assists in just 33 appearances for the club and is undoubtedly one of football’s hottest prospects, with a big money move on the cards at a later stage in his career.
If Moises Caicedo sells for £115m then it’s only right to assume that the Irish international will fetch at least that fee, if not greater with many suggesting he could be worth up to £150m when Brighton presumably let him go.
With the world at his feet and an incredible amount of potential, this is just the start for Evan Ferguson on his road to becoming one of the most dangerous forwards in the game.
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