Close! Ward-Prowse is just a yard or two away from another free-kick goal. He beats the wall and has Ramsdale diving but lands his effort just on top of the netting.

Now then.

Walcott is fouled 25 yards from goal for a central free-kick. No prizes for guessing who has the ball at his feet.

How about this then...

Southampton have scored 15 Premier League goals from outside the box in 2020, six more than any other club.

Finn_kid: Can we stop talking about Sheffield United and appreciate the progress Southampton have made? They're literally third in the table.

Too right. Saints have been really good again here. Full of energy, endeavour, excitement. Happy times at St Mary's.

He's not alone, but Billy Sharp simply hasn't been able to get into this game for Sheffield United. Rhian Brewster replaces him.

That is both forwards changed by Wilder already this half in search of that combination that finally clicks.

Saints are starting to find that first-half rhythm again now. Walker-Peters and Walcott combine down the right with the latter sending over a cross that Adams is prevented from overhead kicking by a Blades defender. A shot does eventually come, from range, but it flies well over.

Image source, .

Roy Hodgson, unsurprisingly, names the same XI that decimated West Brom 5-1 last Sunday as Crystal Palace aim for a first Premier League over Tottenham since January 2015.

Christian Benteke will be looking to continue from where he left off at the Hawthorns, where he scored two goals in a game for the first time since April 2017.

Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Clyne, Kouyate, Cahill, van Aanholt, Schlupp, Milivojevic, McArthur, Eze, Benteke, Zaha.

Substitutes: Butland, Ward, Tomkins, Ayew, Townsend, Batshuayi, Riedewald.

Image source, .

Will Dele Alli appear on the Premier League stage for the first time since 4 October?

The England midfielder, who has been linked with a loan move to Paris St-Germain in January, has been predominantly used in the Europa League so far this season.

Alli is on the Tottenham bench at Selhurst Park.

France midfielder Tanguy NDombele returns as Jose Mourinho makes one change to the side that beat Arsenal 2-0 last Sunday, Giovani Lo Celso dropping to the bench.

Gareth Bale is not involved in the 18.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Ndombele, Hojbjerg, Bergwijn, Sissoko, Son, Kane.

Substitutes: Doherty, Hart, Rodon, Lo Celso, Alli, Moura, Davies.

Ward-Prowse has been somewhat pigeon-holed in recent weeks as a dead-ball merchant, because of his undoubted skill at a set-piece. But he has been brilliant in open play so far here. He wins the ball, he rarely gives it away, he drives forward when he can. Superb player.

United are so much better this half. They work the ball nicely down that right channel that was so starved of possession in the first half and swing over a cross that is allowed to drop and then eventually hacked clear by the home side.

Chance! This one is swung in towards the near post where it is met by John Egan, but he can't steer his header on target. Instead it flies a few yards over. Much more positive from the Blades, though. Baby steps.

United win another corner. Can't fault the intent.

Kris Jefferson: On Sheff Utd’s start, they’ve also lost to West Brom and Leeds and they’re only point is against Fulham. It’s not just the top 6 they’ve lost against, they’re also not doing well against the teams next to them

Chris Wilder didn't make any changes at the break but he's seen enough in two second-half minutes to take off Oli McBurnie and send on David McGoldrick, who is a former Saint.

An injury for McBurnie is the most likely cause of this.

Nah. The corner is taken short and the worked terribly back towards George Baldock, who is clearly offside.

The Blades force an early corner in the second half. Promising.

Sheffield United's players were out well before the Saints, doing warm-ups. 'Get out there and do something about this' the likely message from Wilder. Can they? Let's find out.

In answer to the question I posed before kick-off, asking who Southampton's top three Premier League appearance makers are... the answer is Jason Dodd (329), Claus Lundekvam (290) and Matthew Le Tissier (270).

Speaking of Lundekvam, have a read of this fine article we did on the ex-Saints defender's battle with drink and drugs after he finished playing.

Sheffield United have attempted just 74 passes against Southampton so far; the fewest by a team in the first half of a Premier League game since February 2007, which was also by Sheffield United (67 v Blackburn).

Image source, Getty Images

Not been a good day for George Baldock fans either. Look at the lack of action over on that Blades right side.