Leicester host Southampton as the battle for a spot in Europe intensifies

Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes face off against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints on Saturday evening with both sides fighting for the right to play European football next season.

Leicester City, of course, narrowly missed out on a spot in the Champions League last season, having been 2nd in February before picking up just nine points from their remaining eight games, leaving the East Midlands outfit in 5th position.

Despite missing out on Europe’s top competition, it wasn’t completely doom and gloom for the Foxes as their spot in the Europa League was confirmed, still a remarkable achievement for a club showing no signs of slowing down their development.

Almost midway through the season, Leicester’s name is once again in the hat for a top four finish, currently occupying 4th spot on goal difference ahead of Everton.

The one-time Premier League champions have lost just one of their last nine matches in all competitions, but it’s extremely tight at the top end of the table, meaning a victory over 7th place Southampton, who are just three points behind the Foxes, would be a big step in the right direction.

Southampton’s wait for European football is slightly lengthier than that of their opponents on Saturday. The Saints finished 7th during the 2014/15 campaign a feat which rewarded them with Europa League football for the following season.

Under Ronald Koeman’s management, the Hampshire side failed to reach the group stages, losing out to FC Midtjylland in the qualifying play-off round.

Then a sixth place finish in 2015/16, ensured that Southampton would have another crack at the Europa League, this time going automatically to the group phase. However, it was Claude Puel who would take them this time as they dropped out of the competition, finishing below Hapoel Be’er Sheva on head to head results.

There were some memorable moments in the group for the South-Coast side as they beat Italian Giants Inter Milan 2-1 at St Mary’s, but their exit in the first phase has left a fire in the bellies of those connected to the club, who’ll hope the Saints make it further next time.

That ‘next time’ has yet to come, however, with arguably their best side since their esteemed team of 2015, the dream of European nights are alive once more for Southampton supporters, albeit they may have to watch from the comfort of their living rooms this time around.

The Saints have picked up four clean sheets in their last seven encounters, a run of games which has seen them lose just once at the hands of Manchester City. Their latest scalp, an impressive 1-0 victory over reigning champions Liverpool.

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Rodgers will be boosted by the fact there are no fresh injury concerns for the Foxes as they prepare for this clash.

Jamie Vardy and James Maddison are expected to return to the starting eleven after being benched for the recent FA Cup clash with Stoke City, Ayoze Perez and Dennis Praet the likely candidates to lose their place in the side.

The Leicester boss is expected to stick with the remainder of the side that breezed past the Potters 4-0.

Hasenhuttl will have a decision on his hands regarding the goalkeeper position with Alex McCarthy returning to the squad following his spell on the sidelines with coronavirus. Fraser Forster had previously done well in place of his fellow Englishman during the match against Liverpool.

Che Adams is due to return to the side following a concussion he had endured, however, Danny Ings looks likely to miss out as he recently tested positive for coronavirus.