Preview: Leicester City vs. Southampton - prediction, team news, lineups

Leicester City and Southampton meet at the King Power Stadium on Saturday evening with both teams looking to boost their hopes of claiming a top-four spot at the end of the season.

While the Saints currently occupy seventh position in the Premier League standings, they sit just three points adrift of their fourth-placed hosts.

Match preview

Brendan Rodgers surprised many Leicester supporters last weekend when he named a strong starting lineup for their FA Cup third-round fixture at Stoke City.

While James Maddison and Jamie Vardy were handed a rest, other key players contributed to a 4-0 victory over the Championship outfit, and it highlighted Rodgers's desire to win silverware this season.

Priority remains on securing a place in next season's Champions League, but Rodgers knows that winning the FA Cup or Europa League is not beyond this group of players.

With five tough fixtures to come before the end of January, balance will have to be found when it comes to managing workloads over the coming weeks.

Nevertheless, Rodgers has quality options in all areas of the pitch, and whoever is selected at the weekend will be expected to contribute to another three points.

The same can be said of Southampton with Ralph Hasenhuttl's squad having been provided with an unscheduled break from action last weekend.

Positive coronavirus tests within the Shrewsbury Town ranks gave the Saints squad a much-needed breather, although they now face the prospect of having to cram more fixtures into an already-packed schedule.

Hasenhuttl would have probably preferred to have played the tie on its intended date on the back of an outstanding 1-0 victory over champions Liverpool.

With three clean sheets having now been recorded in succession, Hasenhuttl will now be focused on extending Southampton's unbeaten away record to eight matches.

Leicester City Premier League form: WLWDDW Leicester City form (all competitions): LWDDWW

Southampton Premier League form: WDLDDW

Team News

Hasenhuttl has a decision to make regarding his goalkeepers with first-choice Alex McCarthy returning to the squad after a spell out due to coronavirus.

However, replacement Fraser Forster will feel like he did enough against Liverpool to hold onto his place between the sticks.

While Che Adams is expected to return after concussion, Danny Ings is unlikely to play due to recording a positive coronavirus test after the last match.

Maddison and Vardy will return to the Leicester XI, likely taking the places of Dennis Praet and Ayoze Perez.

Rodgers is expected to stick with the remainder of the side which eased to victory in the Potteries.

Leicester City possible starting lineup: Schmeichel; Justin, Fofana, Evans, Castagne; Ndidi, Tielemans; Albrighton, Maddison, Barnes; Vardy

Southampton possible starting lineup: Forster, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand; Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Diallo, Walcott; Adams, Long

We say: Leicester City 2-2 Southampton

Given their attack-minded philosophies, we expect plenty of goals to be scored at the King Power Stadium. While the Foxes are the favourites to prevail in the East Midlands, the extra rest could play its part in helping Southampton earn a point from an entertaining tussle.

Top betting tip

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