Leicester City will be hosting struggling Southampton at King Power Stadium on the final day of the Premier League with nothing to lose or gain.
When and Where?
Date: May 22, Sunday.
Place: King Power Stadium.
Time: 4pm (BST).
Match officials
Referee: Jonathan Moss.
Assistants: Marc Perry, Shaun Hudson.
Fourth official: Leigh Doughty.
VAR: Graham Scott.
Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood.
Team news
Youri Tielemans and Justin are expected to return to the team after missing out on the tie against Chelsea. Ryan Bertrand and Ndidi remain sidelined with their return date still not being known. Hamza Choudhury and Ricardo Pereira were surprisingly named on the bench against Chelsea, the duo might get some game time this time.
As for the Saints, goalkeeper Fraser Forster has been ruled out of the tie and so has Romain Perraud. Full-back Livramento will also not be available for selection for the final game of the season.
Match Analysis
The Foxes are currently 9th in the Premier League table. Rodgers’ team can forget about contending on the continent next season, but a win at King Power would move them above Wolverhampton Wanderers into the eighth position, with a top-half finish probably being the minimum need for the rest of the season. Although Leicester City were the semifinalists of the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2021- 2022, It’s not surprising that Leicester’s home fortunes have plummeted in the midst of their continental quest. With just 13 wins in 37 matches, Leicester are on the verge of finishing out of the top 5 for the first time since 2019-20. Meeting Southampton at home on the final day would be an ideal way for Leicester to cap off a difficult season, but the Foxes have already gone six league games without a clean sheet on the road, and they have also gone 25 years without winning their final away game of a Premier League season.
A season full of promise is coming to an end for Southampton and its fans, who may take solace in the fact that their team has been proclaimed officially safe from relegation ahead of the last matchday. The Saints, currently 15th in the table might even drop down a bit should they lose or draw and Everton take home all the 3 points against Arsenal. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side has won just one game in their last 12 matches across all competitions and has surely put his job in danger. The Saints have an xGA of 14.2 in their last 7 matches while conceding 17, the most in the league. To complement their pathetic defensive performance, their offence isn’t far behind. In their last 7 matches, they have accumulated a total xG of 9.4 while finding the back of the net only 5 times.
Key players
Jamie Vardy
The veteran English forward has always been the starman of Leicester City since their title-winning campaign. Including a golden boot winning campaign, the 35-year-old forward has been involved in 158 Premier League goals in 235 matches. Vardy and Leicester City have already produced one of the greatest football stories in history. It’s a great story of hard work, patience, and pure brilliance, and it’s difficult not to wish Vardy and the foxes success. Providing amazing moments such as Martin Tyler’s “It’s eleven, it’s heaven for Jamie Vardy,” underlining the glory of his 11th consecutive Premier League game with a goal (a record that still stands today). Jamie Vardy has been vital to Leicester’s years of success. He is a really iconic forward, not to mention highly unique in his career path, personality, and play style.
James Ward-Prowse
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola dubbed the England international the “greatest free-kick taker in the world” in January. The 27-year-old is now famous for finding the back of the net so frequently from free-kicks that he is frequently likened to another set-piece king in David Beckham, who for many years was Manchester United’s and England’s go-to guy for any free-kicks in and around the penalty area. Ward-Prowse has played under seven different permanent managers since his debut at 16 in 2011, but it is as part of Ralph Hasenhüttl’s high-octane team that he has come into his own and earned the captain’s armband.
Predicted XI
Leicester City predicted XI vs Southampton: Schmeichel; Castagne, Fofana, Evans, Justin; Mendy; Maddison, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall, Barnes; Vardy.
Southampton predicted XI vs Leicester City: McCarthy; Valery, Bednarek, Salisu, Walker-Peters; Redmond, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, S Armstrong; Broja, Adams.
