Southampton FC vs Leicester City, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

Southampton FC vs Leicester City Match Prediction & Analysis

This is a huge game for both teams, with Southampton and Leicester crashing out of the FA Cup this week against lower league teams.

Southampton’s result was the more damaging of the two, losing to League Two club Grimsby Town in one of the team’s worst defeats in some time.

The Saints also find themselves four points adrift at the bottom of the league. They could soon find themselves too far behind to catch up unless they start to put points on the board under new manager Ruben Selles.

Leicester’s season continues to be a rollercoaster for their fans to endure. A positive stretch of consecutive victories has now turned into back-to-back defeats. They remain just three points ahead of the drop zone.

Brendan Rodgers could have done with a good cup run to distract from Leicester’s struggles in the league, but that wasn’t to be the case as they lost to Blackburn in midweek.

Can either team put their struggles behind them here?

TEAMS PREVIEW

Southampton FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Have to use their dismal defeat in midweek to their advantage

     Ruben Selles will have fresh ideas for his players to follow

Reasons to be fearful:

     Winless in their past eight home league games

     Are the youngest squad in the league and their inexperience is showing

As dreadful as their cup defeat to Grimsby was in midweek, manager Ruben Selles could use it to his advantage and motivate his players to improve immediately.

They’ll know that the result wasn’t anywhere near good enough and their fans will demand an immediate response – they need one if they are to stand a chance of survival this season.

We have seen most clubs near the bottom change their managers at some point this season – can Ruben Selles make a difference for the Saints, like Lopetegui at Wolves?

He’ll need a massive improvement from his players – the team has lost their last five in a row at home.

Star Man – James Ward-Prowse

Even in the dismal defeat to Grimsby in midweek, Ward-Prowse still managed to come on as a substitute and provide an assist to give his team some hope. This game could be a club-record 330th appearance for Saints.

Leicester City Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Unbeaten in their last five away visits to Southampton

     Won eight of their last 10 against teams bottom of the table

Reasons to be fearful

     Also suffered a dismal FA Cup defeat in midweek

     Three defeats on the bounce in all competitions

Leicester are another team, like Nottingham Forest, Wolves and West Ham, that appear on the surface too good to face relegation but just haven’t been consistent enough to pull themselves away from that battle.

They’ve now lost their last three in all competitions, following a stretch of three consecutive victories and four unbeaten. It means defeat here could see them drop to 17th if the three teams below them win.

James Maddison is expected to return to the team here after continued injury problems. That would be a huge boost for Brendan Rodgers – his team look completely off the pace when their talisman doesn’t play.

After two consecutive home defeats, the Foxes may relish an away trip to the south coast – they’re unbeaten in their last five visits to St. Mary’s.

Star Man – James Maddison

The attacking midfielder completely changes Leicester when he plays and, more importantly, when he doesn’t. He has five league goals against the Saints over the years and will be desperate to contribute once again.