The Premier League has reached its peak period, with a general idea of the final standings starting to form in the minds of the teams and fans alike. Goals have come in plenty this season and there have been some truly splendid strikes in the English top-flight since August. As the year has come to an end, here we look at five of the best goals scored from direct free-kicks in the first half of the 2016-17 season:
5. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City vs Bournemouth)
After Jack Wilshere gave away a foul on Nolito, fifteen minutes into the game, Kevin De Bruyne stepped up to take the set-piece. And the Belgian made no mistake from a little outside the box, with a cheeky free-kick that crept under the wall, leaving Artur Boruc in the Bournemouth goal with no chance to get down to it.
4. Romelu Lukaku (Everton vs Crystal Palace)
Everton were playing Crystal Palace at the Goodison Park and after a subdued first half an hour, Everton got a chance with defender Damien Delaney fouling Phil Jagielka. Striker Romelu Lukaku took the ball and hit a sublime free-kick sending the ball over the wall and into the goal at the near post with his left foot.
3. Xherdan Shaqiri (Hull City vs Stoke City)
https://youtu.be/qNiDcYLv8ts
Shaqiri had a night to remember at the KCOM Stadium as Stoke ran 2-0 winners against Hull City with the Swiss international scoring both the goals for the Potters. He scored the first one with a stunning finish from 25 yards, in the first half, before winning the free-kick for his second on 49 minutes. Shaqiri stepped up and sent the ball over the wall and into the bottom right corner, beyond Marshall. A classy strike from the Swiss.
2. Dimitri Payet (Liverpool vs West Ham United)
https://youtu.be/Tw-S3_eAWos
Liverpool played hosts to West Ham at Anfield and had taken an early lead through Adam Lallana. However, 26 minutes into the game the goalscorer fouled Pedro Obiang in a dangerous area. Dimitri Payet stepped up to take the free-kick and made no mistake, sending the ball over the wall and dipping sharply towards the bottom-left corner. Goalkeeper Loris Karius managed to get a hand but couldn’t keep the ball out which was struck with such venom.
1. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool vs Arsenal)
This screamer from the magician from Brazil came on the opening day of the season in a thrilling encounter between Liverpool and Arsenal. Theo Walcott had put the Gunners ahead in the first half. But a soft free-kick conceded on the stroke of half-time would come back to haunt Arsenal as Philippe Coutinho hit the ball sweetly from the set-piece 30 yards out sending it swerving past over the wall and darting past Petr Cech into the top-right corner.