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