Two newly-promoted sides go head-to-head for three priceless Premier League points on Saturday afternoon, as Southampton welcome Leicester City to St Mary’s.
The Saints put in a good shift against Arsenal two weekends ago but ultimately fell to a 3-1 defeat, whereas the F
oxes finally found their bite in a 1-0 triumph over Bournemouth.
Match preview
Southampton boss Russell Martin on Septemper21,2024
A match that was expected to be a foregone conclusion from the first whistle sprang hope for an Emirates embarrassment last weekend, where Southampton survived a first-half Arsenal onslaught to take an unexpected lead through Cameron Archer’s fine finish.
But the travelling army were only on cloud nine for three minutes, as Kai Havertz capitalised on a Saints error to draw Arsenal level, before Gabriel Martinelli’s back-stick volley and Bukayo Saka’s late finish completed the Arsenal turnaround.
Defeat in North London – albeit one that was not as humiliating as some envisaged – means that 19th-placed Southampton are now just one of four sides still searching for their first Premier League win of the new term, sharing that fate with Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace and basement side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Nevertheless, under-fire Russell Martin remains safe in the hotseat for the time being, but the Saints boss could now be part of unwanted history, with Southampton setting a new club record of 21 consecutive top-flight games without a victory should they fail to win on Saturday.
Though renowned for having the lion’s share of possession, Southampton’s dominance on the ball is yet to be translated into lethal attacking play since the Saints’ meager tally of four goals constitutes the worst offensive record in the current Premier League season.
While Southampton failed to hold onto a slender advantage a fortnight ago, it was a very different story for upcoming foes Leicester City, who left Southampton behind in the winless club courtesy of a hard-fought one-goal triumph over Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth.
Brighton & Hove Albion-owned Facundo Buonanotte gave Leicester the lead with a crisp finish on the 16-minute mark at the King Power Stadium as Leicester earned their first league win since April and just their third in all tournaments this term after EFL Cup successes versus Walsall and Tranmere Rovers.
One of just three teams to score in every Premier League game this season alongside Arsenal and Manchester City, a first win was long overdue, and Steve Cooper’s now side resides in the relative safety of 15th place, three points above the drop zone.
Next on the agenda for the Foxes boss is snapping Leicester’s disheartening 11-game winless Premier League streak away from home, a run stretching back to their 4-2 beating of Aston Villa in February 2023, which was also the last time that they won back-to-back Premier League matches.
Five years on from infamous 9-0 St Mary’s slaughter, Leicester repeated their nine-goal trick against Southampton in the Championship last season, albeit across two matches rather than one as a 4-1 South Coast crushing preceded a 5-0 dismantling at the King Power, where Abdul Fatawu helped himself to a hat-trick.
Southampton Premier League form:
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Leicester City Premier League form:
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Team News\
Southampton’s Ross Stewart pictured on September 30, 2024Workspace™© Imago
Prior to the win over Arsenal, Jack Stephens – who had already served a three-game ban for his red card against Manchester United – was given a further two-game suspension for using abusive language towards the officials, and he serves the second match of that punishment here.
The Saints were also denied the services of luckless striker Ross Stewart through a muscular injury in the first half of the defeat at Arsenal – Martin has confirmed he will be out this weekend – while Yukinari Sugawara also picked up a knock but joined up with the Japan squad for the international break.
The long-term absentee is Gavin Bazunu with Achilles issues, but Martin has delivered the good news that Kamaldeen Sulemana is available again after ankle trouble, as is Will Smallbone following a thigh problem.
On the injury front for Leicester, Cooper confirmed it is as you were before the international break, and towering defender Jannik Vestergaard – who got some minutes under his belt for Denmark this month – is now in line for his domestic return.
Patson Daka and Jakub Stolarczyk remain out as they recover from respective ankle injuries, while Hamza Choudhury could be out for months after dislocating his shoulder in training at the start of October.
As much as Jamie Vardy loves a goal against the traditional Big Six, the Leicester skipper boasts 12 direct involvements against Southampton (eight of his own and four assists), his most against a single team in league action.
Possible lineups:
Southampton:
Ramsdale; Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters; Sugawara, Aribo, Fernandes, Downes, Manning; Dibling, Archer
Possible Leicester City lineup:
Hermansen; Justin, Okoli, Faes, Kristiansen; Ndidi, Skipp; Ayew,
