Leicester vs Southampton
Football: English Premier League
2nd October 2016 – Kickoff time 15:15
King Power Stadium
Leicester City will be hoping to transfer their Champions League form to their domestic Premier League action when they take on Southampton on Super Sunday. Despite winning both of their matches in the Champions League their title defence has not gone the way they wanted and it will be a test for them as they take on a Southampton side who have put together some good form lately. Southampton played in Europe in midweek as well as they played in the Europa League on Thursday, so it remains to be seen if this will affect their performance in the domestic front.
Leicester will be glad to be back home at the King Power Stadium. Their problems have been away from home, losing all three out on their travels. At home they have managed a W2 D1 record from their three games, so there could be some value in the Foxes in this match. They managed to hold Arsenal to a draw at home as well, so they have been strong at home. They will be happy to welcome Southampton after all the Foxes have only lost one of their previous 10 home games in the Premier League against the Saints. Of those ten, the Foxes have won seven of them.
It has to be said that the seven Premier League home wins that Leicester have managed against Southampton is their most against any opponent in the Premier League. No doubt the Foxes will be eager to bounce back from their heavy 4-1 defeat at old Trafford last weekend against Manchester United when they couldn’t defend against corners. Interestingly, Leicester have lost three games this season in their six games played, which is the same amount of games that they lost over their previous 42 games during 2016.But no doubt in midweek, they earned a 1-0 home win over FC Porto in the Champions League, with Islam Slimani scoring. So, look no other then him to score here as well as Jamie Vardy.
Meanwhile, Southampton does come into this match with some form, winning their last two Premier League matches. They managed clean sheet in their wins over Swansea and West Ham, playing a great game against the Hammers. However they have suffered two defeats in their three away games in the Premier League this season, but still they must be given credit for their impressive display at West Ham with their attacking full backs. They have started to get back to their mean-defensives ways as well, not having conceded a Premier League goal in three hours to date now.
In attack, the player to watch here will be Charlie Austin as he has looked sharp with a goal in each of Southampton’s last two league matches. However, The Saints do not have good form at Leicester, having only won one of their seven league trips to the King Power Stadium, managing a 2-1 win there in December 2007. They have managed a D1 L2 record from their three Premier League visits there and have failed to score on their last two visits there. Still if we look at their last two league games, they are getting better and will give the reigning Premier League Champions a good battle here.
I will go for Leicester to get the Home win on the fixed odds of 2.25 with Bet365.
Head To Head
Leicester have won four, drawn one, and lost one of their last six meetings with Southampton.
Stats
Leicester have won 60% of their competitive home matches this season, whilst Southampton have lost 50% of their away days.
Team News
Leicester remain without Matthew James, but they are hoping that Nampalys Mendy will return to Premier League action.
Jay Rodriguez and Sofiane Boufal are both out until the middle of October, whilst new signing Jeremy Pied will miss the entire season with an ACL knee injury.
