Leicester City travel to Southampton on Saturday in what promises to be a pivotal early-season battle at the foot of the Premier League table. Both clubs returned to the top flight after gaining promotion from the Championship last term but have struggled to find their feet since.
The Foxes finally secured their first win of the season in gameweek seven, with Facundo Buonanotte’s strike sealing a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth.
That crucial three points lifted Steve Cooper’s side to 15th in the table, providing some much-needed relief after a tough start. Leicester now sit five points and four places above Southampton, who remain in the relegation zone.
Russell Martin’s Saints have endured a miserable campaign so far, with their struggles symbolised by Ben Brereton Diaz’s ongoing drought.
The Chilean striker has now gone 20 Premier League matches without a win and will be desperate to end that barren run against Leicester. The Foxes, however, must ensure he doesn’t break his duck at their expense.
Merson Predicts Foxes Victory:
Heading into the weekend, Leicester will have to contend with some injury concerns. Facundo Buonanotte, Patson Daka, and Hamza Choudhury are all doubts, though Cooper has confirmed that Wilfred Ndidi will be available for selection.
Ndidi is expected to retain his place alongside Oliver Skipp in midfield, the pair having formed a solid partnership in the victory over Bournemouth.
Despite Leicester’s recent improvement, the game at St Mary’s is expected to be a closely contested affair. But pundit Paul Merson believes the Foxes can build on their win before the international break and plunge Southampton further into trouble.
Writing in his column for Sportskeeda, Merson predicted a 2-1 victory for Leicester, stating:
“Leicester City had a massive win before the international break, that will be a huge boost for them. They’ve climbed up to 15th in the table now, that should explain the importance of that result. If Leicester win this game, they will put a lot of daylight between them and Southampton.
“The confidence Leicester have from that win over Bournemouth will still be there despite the international break. Southampton are under too much pressure, and I don’t see anything but a Leicester win in this one.”
A Defining Moment in Leicester’s Season
Though it is still early in the campaign, games like these often define the season for teams battling relegation. Leicester’s win over Bournemouth has given them a platform, and following it up with another victory against Southampton could provide the momentum they need to pull away from danger.
Victory at St Mary’s would create an eight-point gap between Leicester and Southampton, giving the Foxes breathing space ahead of matches against Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town. A positive result would also settle nerves within the squad before the busy winter schedule kicks in.
While Leicester have been tipped by many to survive the drop, success in matches against fellow relegation candidates will be crucial to achieving that goal. For the Foxes, this is a match they simply cannot afford to lose.