Prediction: Leicester to win and both teams to score
Odds: 15/4
Bookmaker: 888Sport
Southampton travel to the King Power Stadium on Thursday evening desperate to claw themselves away from the relegation zone against former manger Claude Puel’s Leicester City.
The Saints travel to face the Foxes and will be vying for a long-awaited victory having fallen five points adrift of safety following the weekend’s football. The hosts meanwhile have stuttered in recent weeks and will be keen to get their season back on track following their defeat to Burnley last Saturday.
Leicester City
With their 2-1 loss at Turf Moor, Leicester now appear to be out of the race for seventh spot, and a potential Europa League place, having fallen nine points behind Burnley. Whilst technically not impossible, the Foxes’ recent form suggests that they will not be able to surpass the Clarets. They have only won two out of their last nine Premier League games, including losses in their last two. Their only victories came against rock-bottom West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion. In all however, it is their home form that has seen them stutter. The East-Midlanders have not tasted victory in four games at the King Power Stadium, a run that stretches back since mid-February. They have not gone five without a win on home soil in the Premier League since 2014.
Having suffered consecutive losses, the Foxes are under threat of their season possibly petering out so a victory over the struggling Saints would go a long way in bringing some optimism back to the East Midlands.
Team News
Similarly to last weekend, Leicester boss Puel is hampered by injuries to his squad. Long-term absentees Matty James and Vicente Iborra are both ruled out for the game meaning Adrien Silva is likely to continue in midfield. However, Wilfred N’didi has returned from suspension. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is a doubt after being on the end of a heavy Ashley Barnes challenge last weekend. Ben Hamer could deputise for the Dane. Shinji Okazaki is also a slight doubt after picking up an ankle injury but will be put through a late fitness test.
Southampton
Most Saints’ fans will argue that the team was unlucky to lose to Chelsea last weekend. The Saints were in firm control after goals from Dusan Tadic and Jan Bednarek but Chelsea managed to turn the game around in the second-half. Whilst their performance was spirited, it now makes it two weeks in a row that Mark Hughes’ men have dropped points from winning positions this season. As a matter of fact, the Saints have dropped 19 points from winning positions this season alone, only worsened by bottom club West Bromwich Albion.
Their failure to hold advantages has seen them struggle this season. Five points adrift of safety, they need to improve on a terrible away record that has seen them claim only one victory in their last 14 league games. They have also lost their last three games away from St Mary’s, conceding three goals in each of them. Intriguingly however, despite them only claiming five wins all season, the majority of them have come on the road with three.
Team News
Midfielder Steven Davis has been out with an Achilles injury since February and looks set to miss out again. Sam McQueen also has a groin strain and is unlikely to feature.
Key Facts To Consider
- Southampton have the better record between the two (W32, D27, L26)
- Leicester won the reverse leg this season 4-1
- Southampton have not won at the King Power Stadium since December 2007
- There has only been one 0-0 draw between the two sides in the last 16 games between them
- Southampton have only won once in their last 19 games
Conclusion
Whilst Leicester are not in the greatest of form, there should be no better side that Claude Puel knows how to exploit than his former side. The quality of Jamie Vardy, who notched his 20th goal of the season, and Riyad Mahrez should be telling. With the return of Wilfred N’didi, Leicester should be far stronger in comparison to their recent performances.
The Foxes should bring their indifferent run to an end but it is unlikely they will keep a clean sheet following their recent defensive record.
Prediction: Leicester to win and both teams to score
Odds: 15/4
Bookmaker: 888Sport
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