Leicester City can take a step closer to winning the EFL Championship title when they welcome Southampton to the King Power Stadium on Tuesday.
The 2023/24 EFL Championship season is in its final stretch, with only three rounds of fixtures remaining before the curtains drop. Tuesday will bring us a game that two teams missed due to one’s FA Cup commitments, as Leicester City and Southampton lock horns at the King Power Stadium.
Leicester City seemed to be in freefall for much of 2024 after struggling to stitch a winning run and kill the title race. The Foxes were once the runaway leaders in the EFL Championship, destined to become the first team to gain automatic promotion to the Premier League.
But after dropping points in seven of their ten games ahead of last weekend’s win over West Bromwich Albion, the gap on top had become negligible. However, the victory this past weekend has helped Leicester City create a two-point lead over Ipswich Town. So, Enzo Maresca’s men have their fate in their hands again.
As for Southampton, they were once in contention to clinch automatic promotion after rising to second on the table in February. However, a few inconsistent performances have left the Saints five points behind Ipswich Town, although the gap to Leicester City has come down. So, three points are imperative heading into Tuesday’s game, as a victory can blow the top-two race wide open.
The reverse fixture saw Leicester City cruise to a 4-1 win over Southampton, with Samuel Edozie scoring a consolation goal. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Leicester City
Enzo Maresca does not have any new concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Southampton on Tuesday, the Leicester City manager will have a full-strength squad.
Kasey McAteer was the latest player off the treatment table, with Leicester City not having anyone on the sidelines. The home side will line up in a 4-3-3 formation against Southampton on Tuesday. Mads Hermansen will take his usual spot between the sticks, with the backline featuring Ricardo Pereira, Conor Coady, Jannik Vestergaard, and Wout Faes.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Harry Winks, Wilfred Ndidi, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Finally, Jamie Vardy should lead the line for Leicester City, with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Stephy Mavidid being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Hermansen; Pereira, Coady, Vestergaard, Faes; Winks, Ndidi, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Vardy, Mavididi
Southampton
Unlike his counterpart in the Leicester City dugout, Russell Martin has a few pressing issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the King Power Stadium. The Southampton manager will be without three first-team players.
Gavin Bazunu is the most notable absentee, with the goalkeeper recovering from an Achilles injury. In addition, Juan Larios (hamstring) and Ross Stewart (muscle injury) remain on the sidelines.
Alex McCarthy will take his spot between the sticks, with Southampton lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him against Leicester City. The backline should feature Kyle Walker-Peters, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jan Bednarek, and James Bree.
As for the midfield unit, Joe Aribo will accompany Will Smallbone and Stuart Armstrong in the middle of the park. Finally, Che Adams should spearhead the Southampton attack, with Ryan Fraser and Adam Armstrong completing the numbers in the offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): McCarthy; Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Bree; Aribo, Smallbone, Stuart Armstrong; Adam Armstrong, Adams, Fraser
Key Stats
- Leicester City have won just two of their last seven home league games against Southampton (D2 L3), with all three defeats in that time coming via a 2-1 margin.
- Southampton lost the reverse fixture 4-1 in September and will look to avoid suffering a league double defeat against Leicester City for the first time since 2011/12.
- Enzo Maresca has won 15 of his 20 home league games in charge of Leicester City (D1 L4), the most in a Foxes manager’s first 20 home matches since Andy Aitken in 1910 (16 wins).
- In games between the EFL Championship top four this season, Southampton have averaged the fewest points per game amongst that quartet (0.8 – 3 in 4 games), just ahead of Leicester City (1.0 – 5 in 5 games). Meanwhile, Leeds United and Ipswich Town have averaged 2.4 and 1.3 points respectively in such games in 2023/24.
- Jamie Vardy has scored seven league goals against Southampton in his career, only netting more against Watford (11) among current EFL Championship teams. This tally includes a Premier League hat-trick in October 2019 in a 9-0 away win for the Foxes.
Player to Watch
Jamie Vardy
As the 2023/24 season approaches its end, a few teams cannot afford to slip up. So, the onus is on their match-winners and experienced heads to ensure consistently game-changing displays. That brings Jamie Vardy into the picture for games featuring Leicester City.
The veteran striker might be closer to his 40th birthday than his 30th, but he remains a pivotal figure for Leicester City. The 37-year-old was on target as the Foxes narrowly beat West Bromwich Albion this past weekend. Another such showing can take Leicester City a step closer to winning the EFL Championship title.
Prediction
Leicester City 2-1 Southampton
Leicester City eked out a narrow 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion despite not being in top form. Tuesday should not be any different, and we expect Southampton to give the table-toppers a run for their money.
However, the Saints suffered a surprise defeat to Cardiff City, and their defensive frailties will come to the fore again on Tuesday. Expect a close contest between the two Premier League promotion hopefuls before Enzo Maresca and his charges clinch the three points. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Leicester City.
