Southampton vs Leicester City
Date: 25/10/2019
K/O: 20:00
Venue: St. Mary’s
Referee: Andre Marriner
TV: Sky Sports Main Event
Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl will look to go one better this weekend after ending a three-game losing streak with a draw away to Wolves last weekend. Southampton’s away form this season has been uncharacteristically good, while their home form has been nothing short of abysmal with only 12% of their points this season being won on home turf. Adding insult to injury, since the beginning of last season Saints have only won five out of there 23 home games, worse than any other side across the two seasons.
Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester will be eager to pick up points on the road after losing their previous two away games to Manchester United and Liverpool. Friday will be the perfect opportunity as the Foxes have won their last two games at St. Mary’s. However, Leicester have never won a Premier League game played on a Friday (D2 L5), which may give the superstitious group of Southampton fans a glimmer of hope, in that they might turn their horrendous home form around.
Leicester are currently sitting at third place in the Premier League, while Southampton are hovering precariously above the relegation zone in 17th. Brendan Rodgers will be flying higher than he imagined whereas Hasenhuttl would have been hoping for a healthier position in the table for his first full season as Saints manager. Rodgers will look to continue this momentum for as long as possible and potentially push for a Champions League spot come May.
Team News
Southampton
There is no doubt hat Hasenhuttl is a quality manager. However, things just haven’t been happening for the Austrian. It appears he still has not figured his strongest first XI. Defensive mistakes combined with lack of attacking flair doesn’t make for pleasant football to watch.
Danny Ings has been on the score sheet six times this season, however three of his goals in the Premier League have come from defensive/goalkeeping howlers. If it wasn’t for his dogged running and tenacity, it is quite difficult to see where Saints would get their goals from. Sofiane Boufal is a player who many believe could add that attacking spark to Saints, but he just has not been getting the minutes. If Hasenhuttl wants to excite the fans, then he should seriously consider starting his Moroccan playmaker.
Hasenhuttl should consider playing two attacking midfielders instead of two defensive. The goals being conceded seem to be major defensive errors, which can only be resolved internally. Why not attempt to resolve the other issue and score more at the other end? One potential partnership is Pierre Hojbjerg sitting in behind, with JWP and Boufal in front – an untried partnership which has the potential to be very exciting.
Southampton’s injury situation remains the same, with Moussa Djenepo expected to return in two/three weeks, and Cedric Soares around the same time. Hasenhuttl stated that Djenepo is back to on-pitch training though. However, it is too early to risk him in a game as the injury is complicated, Soares remains with a calf injury.
Leicester City
The Foxes have been flying high so far this season but shot stopper Kasper Schmeichel has stated in an interview that “it is a decent start, but that’s all it is.” Wise words for the keeper as Leicester may be playing some lovely football but keeping your feet on the ground while 3rd in the Premier League can be a difficult task.
Since Brendan Rodgers took charge of Leicester, no-one has scored more goals in the Premier League than Jamie Vardy, which goes to show when he is played to his strengths, he can be a huge danger to opposition – something Claude Puel just couldn’t bring to his game.
Rodgers has given the all clear for James Maddison as he was subbed off in their 2-1 win over Burnley. Maddison being available will be music to Leicester fans’ ears as he has easily been one of their most exciting and influential players this season. The Foxes boast a fully fit squad for Friday’s clash with the Saints which will make for an interesting contest at St. Mary’s.
Predicted Starting XIs
Southampton (4-2-3-1): McCarthy; Valery, Bednarek, Yoshida, Bertrand; Hojbjerg, Romeu; Redmond, Boufal, JWP; Ings
Leicester (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Pereira, Evans, Soyuncu, Chilwell; Ndidi; Perez, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes; Vardy
Score Prediction: Southampton 2-2 Leicester City
Leicester will be tough opposition but Hasenhuttl will be desperate to get points on the board at St. Mary’s in front of the home fans. An attacking affair with plenty of flowing football on display which should be a good watch for the neutral.
