Southampton v Leicester predictions: Foxes can keep up their top-four charge

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Southampton v Leicester City in the Premier League on Friday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 8pm Friday

Best bets

Leicester to score the last goal
2pts 8-11 Hills

Leicester
1pt 23-20Betfred, Hills

Team news

Southampton
Danny Ings and Ryan Bertrand have joined Sam McQueen and Will Smallbone on the sidelines. Michael Obafemi is expected to return, but the game comes too soon for Oriol Romeu.

Leicester
Wes Morgan and James Justin remain sidelined. Harvey Barnes has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Match preview

Leicester produced a strong second-half performance to beat Crystal Palace on Monday night and their staying power could be in evidence again on their trip to Southampton on Friday night.

The Foxes were in a sticky situation against Palace after Wilfried Zaha had given the Eagles an early lead. But the Foxes steadied themselves at the break and goals from Timothy Castagne and Kelechi Iheanacho sealed a victory which opened up a seven-point cushion to fifth-placed West Ham in the battle for Champions League qualification.

It was the fifth time this season that Leicester had come from behind to win a Premier League game and increased their points tally from losing positions to 19 – second only to comeback kings Manchester United.

Leicester have broken the deadlock in 17 of 33 top-flight games this season. However, Southampton have struck the first blow in 16 of their 32 fixtures, yet they find themselves 26 points below Leicester.

Southampton have gained a reputation for being a team who run out of steam and they have squandered 21 points from winning positions – the joint-most alongside Fulham.

Saints' boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has won admirers for his favoured high-tempo style of play but it places intense physical demands on his players, who often struggle to finish games as well as they start them.

Last Wednesday's defeat at Tottenham was a particular case in point. Hasenhuttl's side dominated the first half and were unlucky not to be more than 1-0 ahead before running out of legs in the second period and losing 2-1.

Hasenhuttl looked hugely frustrated after the final whistle and his mood will not have been helped by a hamstring injury for Danny Ings which places a question mark over the striker's fitness for the rest of the campaign.

Ings's latest setback is unlikely to be too damaging as Southampton are nine points above the drop zone, but it could contribute to a poor end to the season for a side who have endured a miserable 2021, taking just ten points from the 48 on offer.

Even relegated Sheffield United (15 points from 51) have been more productive than the Saints since the turn of the year and answers need to be found this summer if Southampton are to avoid getting sucked into a relegation battle next term.

The immediate future is of more importance to Leicester, who are anxious to stay well ahead of their Champions League qualification rivals before a tough last three games away to Manchester United and Chelsea and at home to Tottenham.

They will be after maximum points against Southampton and look worthy favourites to get the win and even better value to score the game's final goal.

Key stat

Southampton have conceded the last goal in 12 of their last 15 Premier League games.

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