Russell Martin needs to see his Southampton facet replicate their performances in opposition to the Premier League’s greatest golf equipment once they face opponents nearer to them within the desk.
Following their return from the worldwide break, the Saints face Everton and Wolves, however begin by welcoming Leicester Metropolis to St. Mary’s this Saturday.
Having watched his crew go toe-to-toe with Arsenal of their final encounter, Martin is concentrating on the identical method within the upcoming video games that he’s labelled “completely very important”.
“We’ve had Newcastle away; Manchester United at residence, the place for half an hour we’ve been excellent; and right here,” Martin mentioned.
“Now we’ve got to switch that into the video games which might be going to actually outline our season, and we’ve got three or 4 of these developing within the subsequent block of video games which might be going to be completely very important.
“The league is so tight and goes to be so tight for therefore lengthy, however at the moment I noticed a lot in plenty of the blokes and the crew, the best way it felt, to make me really feel actually enthusiastic about what’s to return.”
In SO on Saturday pic.twitter.com/SZpi8476Ta
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 16, 2024
Leicester, in the meantime, earned their first win since their return to the Premier League with a 1-0 overcome Bournemouth final day out.
Facundo Buonanotte’s solely aim sealed the victory, notching his fourth aim involvement in six Premier League appearances this season – already his joint-most throughout a single marketing campaign within the competitors (additionally 4 in 2023-24)
The Foxes additionally stored a clear sheet at residence within the Premier League for the primary time since October 2022, although head coach Steve Cooper insisted it was only a small step in the suitable path.
“Everyone gave every thing within the sport,” Cooper mentioned. “They provide every thing each single day in coaching. In fact, within the first quarter of video games there’s issues we may have completed higher, however some issues have actually gone in opposition to us as effectively.
“To get that gray cloud away from us of getting that win, we’ve actually obtained to suppose now about getting some extra optimistic outcomes like this. It’s sensible and also you’ve obtained to get pleasure from it, as a result of it’s so onerous to win video games within the Premier League, nevertheless it’s one win.
“From now, there received’t be a day that goes by with out me eager about how we beat Southampton. Clearly, we’ll mirror, however all with the thought of how we are able to enhance to try to go back-to-back after we return after the worldwide break.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Southampton – Cameron Archer
Archer opened his Premier League account in Southampton’s defeat to Arsenal forward of the worldwide break, and he can be hoping to proceed his scoring streak on Saturday.
This would be the 22-year-old’s first senior outing in opposition to Leicester, having performed two video games in opposition to them with Aston Villa’s Below-18’s, profitable as soon as and shedding the opposite.
Leicester – Jamie Vardy
Vardy has been concerned in 12 targets in opposition to Southampton in his English league profession (eight targets, 4 assists) – in opposition to no facet has he had a hand in additional.
Six of those eight targets have come at St Mary’s Stadium, together with a hat-trick in October 2019, whereas he has additionally scored two targets from 5 photographs within the Premier League this time period – no participant to have had a minimum of 5 makes an attempt has a greater conversion charge than the veteran Foxes striker (40%).
Vibes degree pic.twitter.com/FmQHKGkgqk
— Leicester Metropolis (@LCFC) October 12, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: SOUTHAMPTON WIN
Whereas Southampton are favoured by Opta’s data-led simulations, they’re winless of their final 20 Premier League video games (D5 L15) – failure to win on this match would set a membership file for his or her outright longest winless run of their top-flight historical past.
Although the Saints have had the fifth-highest share of possession within the top-flight this season (57.4%), simply 3.2% of Southampton’s touches have come within the opposition field, the third-lowest ratio this time period.
Martin’s facet have additionally conceded extra targets following a excessive turnover than some other facet within the Premier League this season (4).
And having completed the double over Leicester of their final Premier League marketing campaign collectively in 2022-23, Southampton misplaced each Championship conferences with the Foxes final time period by an mixture rating of 9-1.
Leicester are one in all simply three groups (together with Arsenal and Man Metropolis) to have scored in each Premier League sport thus far this season. The Foxes earned their first win of the marketing campaign final day out, final profitable consecutively within the competitors in February 2023.
Nevertheless, they’re winless of their final three Premier League away video games in opposition to Southampton (D2 L1) since a 9-0 win below Brendan Rodgers again in October 2019.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Southampton – 42.2%
Draw – 25.4%
Leicester – 32.5%
