Leicester City will face Southampton this afternoon in what has shaped to be a six-pointer for the two relegation rivals. Both managers will be under pressure, having reportedly been told they will get the sack should they fail to win the match. Russell Martin’s side remain winless in the league so Steve Cooper will feel more confident, having picked up his first victory two weeks ago. Here are two key clashes to watch out for during the game.
Facundo Buananotte vs Kyle Walker-Peters
Buonanotte was the man of the moment against Bournemouth. The young Argentine scored a fantastic goal reminiscent of Riyad Mahrez. The winger flummoxed a defender with a clever shimmy before blasting the ball into the roof of the net. That moment of magic proved enough for Leicester to get their first victory of the season.
The 19-year-old has dazzled the King Power crowd with his dribbling and will be confident going up against Kyle Walker-Peters. The fullback likes pushing up but must be wary of not leaving too much space behind for Buonanotte to run into. Additionally, the Southampton defender ranks in the 37th percentile for tackles made, suggesting that he may struggle to deal with Buonanotte’s quick feet.
Jamie Vardy vs Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jan Bednarek
A continuation of my weekly habit of adding a Vardy vs centre-back pairing clash in my articles. The Leicester legend has been clinical when given the chance this season and has also been good with his linkup play. Southampton are treating this match as a must-win and are bound to play with a high line.
Although the Saints will push plenty of players forward, the Foxes backline is strong and will look to fashion quick counterattacks from turnovers. Vardy’s pace and movement will be a key attacking outlet for Leicester, and Southampton defenders paying extra attention to him will open up space for Stephy Mavididi and Buonanotte.
