Steve Staunton had a brilliant career at both club and international level. He won over 100 caps, captained his country, and played in three World Cups. For his clubs he won a league title, an FA Cup, and three League Cups. Certainly not a bad CV.
As good of a player as Staunton was, you still would never have considered him to be a great goalscorer. That is certainly no slight, with the player spending his career in defence.
And yet, he created history back in 1989 with his goalscoring exploits.
Liverpool were playing Wigan in a League Cup tie at Anfield, holding a 5-2 lead going into the second leg. Liverpool were actually the away side, but Wigan's stadium wasn't deemed suitable to hold the match so both legs took place on Merseyside.
After Ian Rush was withdrawn at halftime, a youthful Steve Staunton was his replacement. With Kenny Dalglish's side hit by the injury bug, the 20-year old was thrown on up front.
He only went and scored a hat-trick.
In doing so he became the first Liverpool player to net three goals in a game having started on the bench. You can watch his goals below, with the second a real cracker.
In October 1989, Steve Staunton came on at half-time for the injured @Ian_Rush9 to score a hat-trick during #LFC's "away tie" at Anfield in the 2nd round of the League Cup. Staunton became the first Liverpool player to score a hat trick after coming on as a sub. pic.twitter.com/6Hm588E9JD
— Carl Clemente (@clemente_carl) May 15, 2020
Liverpool ran out 3-0 winners in the game. Staunton would leave Anfield in 1991, signing for Aston Villa. He would eventually return for a two-year spell at the club in the late 90s.
In total he made over 100 league appearances for the club, but he will forever be etched into the history books for this feat.
