Premier League Match Preview:Southampton vs Leicester City
- FlashFootball 2024/10/19 02:08
- 0 0
Premier League | Gameweek 8
Oct 19, 2024 at 3pm UK
St. Mary's Stadium
Southampton vs Leicester
Match preview
In a game that was expected to be a foregone conclusion from the opening whistle, hopes of an embarrassment at the Emirates were raised last weekend when Southampton survived a first-half onslaught from Arsenal to take an unlikely lead through Cameron Archer's fine finish.
However, the travelling army were only on the scoresheet for three minutes when Kai Havertz capitalised on a Saints error to level the scores, before Gabriel Martinelli's back-stick volley and Bukayo Saka's late finish completed the Arsenal turnaround.
The defeat in north London - though not as humiliating as some had feared - leaves 19th-placed Southampton one of four sides still searching for their first Premier League win of the season, along with Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace and basement club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Nevertheless, the under-fire Russell Martin remains in the hot seat for the time being, but the Saints boss could now become part of unwanted history, as failure to win on Saturday will see Southampton go a club-record 21 top-flight games in a row without a victory.
Known for dominating possession, Southampton's dominance of the ball has yet to translate into lethal attacking play, as their meagre four goals are the worst attacking record in the Premier League this season.
While Southampton were unable to hold on to a slender lead a fortnight ago, it was a different story for upcoming opponents Leicester City, who left Southampton winless with a hard-fought one-goal triumph over Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth.
Brighton & Hove Albion's Facundo Buonanotte was responsible for the only goal of the game at the King Power Stadium, his crisp finish after 16 minutes giving Leicester their first league win since April and only their third in all competitions this season, following EFL Cup victories over Walsall and Tranmere Rovers.
With the Foxes one of just three teams to have scored in every Premier League game this season, alongside Arsenal and Manchester City, a first win was long overdue and Steve Cooper's side now sit in the relative safety of 15th place, three points above the relegation zone.
Next on the Foxes' manager's agenda is to end Leicester's disheartening 11-game run without a win away from home in the Premier League, a run that dates back to a 4-2 win over Aston Villa in February 2023, which was also the last time they won consecutive Premier League games.
Five years on from their infamous 9-0 slaughter at St Mary's, Leicester repeated their nine-goal thrashing of Southampton in the Championship last season, albeit over two games rather than one, as a 4-1 thrashing on the south coast was preceded by a 5-0 hammering at the King Power, with Abdul Fatawu scoring a hat-trick.
Recent Performance
Southampton Premier League form:LLLDLL
Southampton form (all competitions):LLWDLL
Leicester City Premier League form:LLDDLW
Leicester City form (all competitions):LDDWLW
Injuries and suspensions
Southampton
31 Gavin Bazunu
5 Jack Stephens
8 Will Smallbone
Leicester City
No sidelined players
Possible starting lineups
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters; Sugawara, Aribo, Fernandes, Downes, Manning; Dibling, Archer
Leicester City possible starting lineup:
Hermansen; Justin, Okoli, Faes, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Skipp; Ayew, Buonanotte, Mavididi; Vardy
This article mentions
Related News
Premier League Preview:Everton vs Wolves,Game 14
15 hours ago
Premier League Preview:Arsenal vs Manchester United,Game 14
15 hours ago
Preview: Aston Villa vs. Brentford, Premier League | Gameweek 14
15 hours ago
Preview: Manchester City vs. Nottingham Forest, Premier League | Gameweek 14
18 hours ago
Premier League Preview:Southampton vs Chelsea,Game 14
18 hours ago
Man charged and eight arrested on suspicion of tragedy chanting during Liverpool vs Manchester City
19 hours ago
Premier League Preview:Newcastle United vs Liverpool,Gameweek 14
19 hours ago
Why did Sam Morsy refuse to wear Premier League's rainbow armband?
19 hours ago
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Fulham:Captain Cairney rescues a point for Fulham
1 day ago
Chelsea 3-0 Aston Villa:A big home win makes the Blues move to the second place
1 day ago
0comments
No comments available