Kane strikes historic hat-trick as Spurs hammer Southampton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - December 26, 2017 Tottenham's Harry Kane celebrates scoring their fifth goal with team mates REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Harry Kane rounded off a sensational 2017 by scoring a record number of Premier League goals and hat-tricks in a calendar year, as well as toppling Lionel Messi as the top scorer in Europe as a rampant Tottenham Hotspur thrashed Southampton 5-2 on Tuesday.

The England striker followed up his treble over Burnley on Saturday by heading in a Christian Eriksen free-kick in the 22nd minute for his 37th league goal of 2017, beating Alan Shearer's 22-year-old record for the most goals in England's top flight in a calendar year.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - December 26, 2017 Tottenham's Harry Kane celebrates after the match REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Kane then overtook Messi as the top scorer of the year in Europe for club and country by tapping in Son Heung-min's low cross in the 39th minute. In the second half Kane scored his side's fifth goal of the game to become the first player to hit six Premier League hat-tricks in one year.

Impressive strikes from Dele Alli and Son had further stretched Tottenham's lead in the second half, while Sofiane Boufal hit back for struggling Southampton to make it 4-1 before the relentless Kane struck once again with a classy chipped finish over Fraser Forster in the 67th minute.

Substitute Dusan Tadic got another consolation goal for the visitors, who are 13th on 19 points and only three clear of the relegation zone. Spurs provisionally climbed up to fourth on 37 points, although Liverpool could overtake them again if they beat Swansea City later on Tuesday.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - December 26, 2017 Tottenham's Harry Kane celebrates scoring their fifth goal and completing a hat-trick with Dele Alli REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - December 26, 2017 Tottenham's Harry Kane misses a chance to score REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - December 26, 2017 Tottenham's Harry Kane scores their fifth goal to complete his hat-trick REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - December 26, 2017 Tottenham's Harry Kane celebrates with the match ball after the match REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - December 26, 2017 Tottenham's Harry Kane shakes hands with the match officials as he celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs