Prediction: Southampton v Leicester City

Verdict: Draw

Best Odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: Bet 365 

Southampton host Leicester City at St Mary’s on January 22nd in what should be an exciting game. Southampton are favourites for the game, but reigning Premier League Champions, Leicester City, can once again upset the odds. Leicester are priced at 4/1 with William Hill, while Southampton can be got at odds of 17/20 with the same firm. There is little between the sides in terms of placings in the Premier League with Southampton currently 13th and their opponents in 15th.

Southampton

Southampton are strong favourites coming into the game considering Leicester City have failed to win an away game so far this season. However, they are currently in poor form having lost last weekend to Burnley they are now on a 4-game losing streak and have failed to score in their last two games. They will be hoping that they can end the poor streak and get one over the current Premier League Champions. The sides last met in October where a 0-0 draw was the result. In addition, Southampton have failed to beat Leicester in the last four meetings between the sides, with Leicester winning 2 and drawing 2. However, in the last 26 meetings at St Mary’s between the sides the hosts have prevailed in most of them, having won 14, drawn 9 and just lost 3.

Team News

Claude Puel will surely make changes to his side as their demanding schedule begins against Leicester City. It will be the first of 4 games in nine days. Ryan Bertrand and Virgil Van Dijk are expected to be recalled after missing Wednesday’s FA Cup tie with Norwich. However, Puel will be without Steven Davis (knock), Jeremy Pied (knee), Matt Targett and Alex McCarthy (hamstring), Sofiane Boufal (knee) and Charlie Austin (shoulder).



Leicester City

Leicester City are complete underdogs coming into this game according to the odds. However, we all know what happened in the previous season when they upsetted the bookmakers at odds of 5000/1. Leicester are in very poor form away from home and that probably explains the odds of 4/1 to beat Southampton at St Mary’s. They have a poor record at St Mary’s also though having only won 3 times in the last 26 meetings at the venue. Claudio Ranieri will be hoping his side can at least come away with a draw, but it will be difficult. However, he has a full squad to choose from so they are capable of a draw at least. When these sides last met in the Premier League a 0-0 draw the outcome that was played at the King Power Stadium in October.

Team News

Claudio Ranieri will have to plan with Leonardo Ulloa as he struggles to shake off a thigh injury. However, other than Luis Hernandez who has to finalise a move to Malaga the Italian has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game as the Foxes look for their first away win of the season.

Key Factors to Consider

• Southampton have just won 1 of their last seven league meetings with Leicester (D2, L4)
• Leicester have never won a Premier League game at St Mary’s (D3, L1). They last beat Southampton in 2000 at The Dell 2-1
• The Foxes are awaiting their first league away win since April 2016 (D5, L7)
• Southampton last failed to score in three successive Premier League games in February 2015
• Southampton’s next home defeat will be their 100th in the Premier League.

Conclusion

After going through past statistics and league standings the likely outcome is a draw at St Mary’s. In the Premier League table only 3 points separate the sides so there is very little to choose from between the sides. Leicester have a full squad to pick from, while Southampton have some injuries so Leicester should be able to take advantage of this and come away with a draw at least.

Verdict: Draw

Best Odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: Bet 365