Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse will be looking to equal a Premier League free-kick record set by David Beckham and Laurent Robert when the Saints welcome Crystal Palace to St Mary's on Saturday.
The 27-year-old dead-ball specialist is enjoying his best-ever goalscoring season in the Premier League, netting nine times in 32 appearances in 2021-22.
Five of his goals have been from outside the penalty box, more than any other Premier League player this term, with only Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier ever scoring more in a single season for the Saints – netting seven in 1993-94 and eight in 1994-95.
The other four goals scored by Ward-Prowse have been from direct free kicks and should he score another on Saturday, the midfielder would take his free-kick tally to five this season, equalling the feat that both Beckham in 2000-01 and Robert in 2001-02 achieved in a single Premier League campaign.
Ward-Prowse is also closing in on the all-time Premier League record for goals scored from direct free kicks, with the Saints captain just four behind Beckham at the top of the standings with 18.
One of Ward-Prowse's four free kicks scored this season came against Crystal Palace in the reverse fixture, when Southampton drew 2-2 at Selhurst Park in December.
Oliver Thomas
