Leicester City vs Southampton
Date: 16/01/2021
K/O: 20:00
Venue: King Power Stadium
Referee: Stuart Attwell
TV: BT Sport
Saturday night has the potential to be an absolute gem for football, as Leicester City host Southampton in what can only be a fantastic fixture between two developing, top sides.
Only three points separate both of them at the top of the table, with Leicester up on 32 in 4th place and Southampton running behind them in 7th and 29 points. A win for the Saints, emulating their 1-2 away victory over Leicester last year, would put them right alongside Leicester. But a win for Leicester – perhaps one akin to their historic nine-goal thrashing – would push them up to one point behind league leaders Manchester United. This is a six-pointer for both teams and not one to be missed.
Starting as they mean to go on?
Leicester’s two-week break from the Premier League has allowed for some necessary rest for their big-name players. Jamie Vardy and James Maddison were just two of those who sat out of their convincing 4-0 FA Cup win over Stoke City. They will need both players, and the rest of their squad, back at their best with a string of four difficult fixtures coming up.
After Southampton, Leicester play Chelsea, Everton, and then Leeds consecutively – with these fixtures only broken up by a potentially tough FA Cup tie away at Brentford. They beat Leeds relatively easily earlier in the season – 4-1 away – they then play Chelsea which will be their first meeting with ex-player Ben Chilwell since his big-money move, while their game against Everton at home ended in a disappointing defeat and they will be hoping to avoid a repeat. Form will mean everything for these four tough fixtures, and for Leicester to go into them with confidence they will be looking to start off with a win over the Saints on Saturday.
Leicester’s first performance against Southampton last season was thrilling. Their second, less so.
There was likely no bigger contrast last season between two results than Leicester’s 9-0 win away and their 1-2 loss at home. It tells a tale of consistency – or a lack thereof – and one that unfortunately persists to this season. The Foxes have ebbed and flowed in form this year, and are seeking for some consistency in their results. Two previous wins in a row could provide the framework for a positive run, and a win here could solidify it and put away their woes with their home performances.
Leicester will have a fully fit, and fully rested, squad for the fixture. Brendan Rodgers will have every weapon in his arsenal – he will need to make it count against a Saints side that showed they can hold back the best of the Premier League the last time they played.
A long road – what lies at the end?
When Southampton suffered the biggest home loss of Premier League history last October, they looked like a team that might be vulnerable to relegation. More than a year later, the Saints sit in the running for the top six. Their defeat that night was the instigating event for the transformation that has occurred between then and now.
Ralph Hasenhüttl has received great credit for their change, and deservedly so. Southampton have an identity and a system now, one that is becoming iconic and recognisable. Their reliable 4-2-2-2, and utilisation of key players, such as Danny Ings and James Ward-Prowse, has cemented Hasenhüttl as a top tier manager. He has shown he is well-deserving of his place at the upper end of the Premier League; as does the club that he has brought there.
The Austrian has attracted lots of attention from traditionally “bigger” clubs for what he has done, in a similar vein to Rodgers. But the Austrian has no real reason to leave. He may not be able to spend ludicrous money in the transfer market, or sign “big name” players, but the progress and work he is doing at Southampton is likely to be remembered. And, it is a much bigger achievement than anything he could do at a “big-six” side. It is also reported, too, that he has a huge amount of freedom at Southampton as the club and its owners put their full weight behind his philosophy and methods.
The Saints’ improvement does not look to be slowing either, and Hasenhüttl’s signings are consistently paying off for him. If he continues in this vein and achieves a high finish this season, who is to say that, in the current Premier League climate, a title challenge next season would not be possible?
Team News
Leicester City
Leicester City will welcome the returns of star Ricardo Pereira and loanee Cengiz Ünder to their squad this week, with the former returning after almost a year out of football. Although neither are expected to start after their absences.
Jamie Vardy and James Maddison will also return, likely to the starting line-up, after sitting out their FA Cup tie. The Foxes’ only absence is Dennis Praet, who will be out up to three months following a hamstring tear against Stoke.
Southampton
Ralph Hasenhüttl announced in his press briefing that Danny Ings would likely miss out on the trip to Leicester following a positive COVID-19 test.
Nathan Redmond and Moussa Djenepo are out for the longer term, as are Michael Obafemi and Jannik Vestergaard. Alex McCarthy will return, however, following a short stint in self-isolation.
Predicted Starting XIs
Leicester City (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Justin, Fofana, Evans, Castagne; Tielemans, Ndidi; Albrighton, Maddison, Barnes; Vardy
Southampton (4-2-2-2): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Romeu; Armstrong, Walcott; Long, Adams
Score Prediction: Leicester City 2-1 Southampton
If all was as usual, I would have predicted a 2-2 draw. However, Danny Ings’ absence is likely to play a key part in the game considering how vital he is to Saint’s attack. Without him, I cannot foresee them being able to equal or outscore Leicester in what I expect to be an end-to-end game.
