KICK OFF: Friday 30th April 2021, 8PM
Embed from Getty ImagesTwo sides in a contrasting run of form heading into their Friday evening encounter at St Mary’s as Southampton host Leicester City in the Barclays Premier League.
Southampton have lost three games in a row in all competitions including the FA Cup semi-final between the two sides a couple weeks ago, and they are 15th in the table nine points above the relegation places, while Leicester City are flying high in third place looking to cement their positioning in the Champions League places.
Leicester’s run of victories started with a 1-0 win over Southampton at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals less than two weeks ago, with Kelechi Iheanacho settling the contest with a poachers effort.
Iheanacho was again the hero on Monday night as Leicester City came from behind to beat Crystal Palace at the King Power – the Nigerians 14th goal in as many matches – and move seven points above West Ham in fifth.
That win for Leicester, following a 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion a few days on from their cup semi-final triumph, leaves them sitting nicely in third place.
The Foxes may have collapsed at the last hurdles last year, but are on course to finish in the top four providing they beat Southampton at the St Mary’s.
The Foxes’ away form has been a little more mixed, it must be said, having won three of their last seven on their travels, most recently losing 3-2 to West Ham United.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side however, enter this game in disappointing form with league losses to Tottenham Hotspur and West Brom either side of their FA Cup defeat at Wembley.
Saints fans will be reminded of that torrid evening against Leicester City when they lost 9-0 at St Mary’s and will looking to avenge that night come Friday evening.
The Saints did pick up a 3-2 win against Burnley in their most recent home match, but that is their only three-point haul in six attempts at St Mary’s.
Southampton should be assured of Premier League football next season with a nine-point gap on 18th-placed Fulham, but one more win will be required if they are to make certain of that.
PREMIER LEAGUE FORM:
Southampton: WLLWLL
Leicester City: WWLLWW
TEAM NEWS:
Southampton
Southampton’s leading goalscorer Danny Ings will miss Friday’s game because of a thigh injury, with manager Ralph Hasenhuttl unsure whether the forward will play again this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesMichael Obafemi is back in training but Ryan Bertrand, Oriol Romeu and Will Smallbone remain out.
Leicester City
Leicester winger Harvey Barnes has been ruled out for the rest of the season as he needs further knee surgery. James Justin remains absent also
Club captain Wes Morgan is again ruled out by a back problem.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Southampton: McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand; Armstrong, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Walcott; Redmond, Adams
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Fofana, Evans, Soyoncu; Castagne, Tielemans, Ndidi, Thomas; Maddison, Vardy, Iheanacho
SCORE PREDICTION: Southampton 1-2 Leicester City
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