Preview: Southampton vs Leicester

A match between the newly promoted teams at St. Mary’s. Of the three teams that came up from the Championship, only Leicester has secured a win this season, and time is running out—especially for Southampton and manager Russell Martin. The Saints have not looked good.

On the Edge of a Cliff

So far, Southampton has shown little to suggest they are capable of competing in the Premier League, though they shocked the home crowd by taking the lead away to Arsenal. Cameron Archer’s 1-0 goal didn’t result in points, however, as Arsenal came back to win 3-1. Their first three home games have produced just one point, and there’s little doubt that manager Russell Martin is on borrowed time.

Betting tip: Tottenham – West Ham

Refusing to Compromise

The Saints’ boss seems unwilling to compromise on his style of play, even though it’s become glaringly obvious that the squad isn’t anywhere near good enough. One point from the first seven matches is the harsh reality, and the majority of the 15 goals conceded have been gifts from a team desperately and helplessly trying to play out from the back. A loss at home to Leicester could very well mark the end of Russell Martin’s career as Saints’ manager.

Betting tip: Oxford United – WBA

Cooper Knows What’s Needed

Leicester faced Southampton in the Championship last season and won the two encounters by a combined score of 9-1. The Foxes have also looked much better than the Saints since promotion, and their first win of the season came just before the international break. They were under pressure at times at home to Bournemouth, but Facundo Buonanotte’s early 1-0 goal was enough to secure the victory.

With Steve Cooper, Leicester has a manager who knows what it takes to stay afloat in the Premier League. His more pragmatic approach—compared to Southampton’s—has delivered results. Leicester has taken points from four of their first seven games and comes into this weekend’s clash as slight favorites at St. Mary’s.

Southampton vs Leicester

The Saints have now gone 20 Premier League matches without a win, and a defeat today would set a new unwanted club record. They will be without Jack Stephens (suspended) and Ross Stewart (injured), but Will Smallbone and Kamaldeen Sulemana are fit and available.

Leicester defeated Southampton by a combined 9-1 over two games last season, and they also secured their first Premier League win of the season just before the international break. They are boosted today by the return of Jannik Vestergaard. The Danish center-back has been injured and hasn’t played since August.

Betting Tips

This is a crucial match for both teams, just as it was when they met in the Championship last season. That encounter produced 10 goals over two matches. Both teams are stronger in attack than defense, and Southampton has now gone 19 Premier League matches without keeping a clean sheet. Leicester, meanwhile, is one of only three Premier League clubs to have scored in every match this season. Our tip: bet on “both teams to score