FORMIDABLE FOXES HAVE QUALITY TO GO THE FULL DISTANCE
JUST like five years ago, nobody is talking about them. Yet, just like five years ago, Leicester are there again, in the thick of the battle.
While it will be difficult to repeat the title win of 2016, Leicester’s target is to right the wrongs of last season when they spent all but one week outside the top four. Unfortunately for Brendan Rodgers, that week was the final one of the season and it meant that the Foxes were pipped to a Champions League place.
There are still 20 matches to go in this Premier League campaign, starting with a crucial fixture at home tomorrow to a Chelsea side who had a narrow victory at Fulham at the weekend. However, there is surely every reason to believe that Leicester can go one better this time.
The squad is deeper, thanks to clever recruitment which brought in defenders Timothy Castagne and Wesley Fofana. The young home-based players are improving, too. Between them, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes have 17 goals in all competitions this season, while marauding full-back James Justin delivered another impressive performance in front of England manager Gareth Southgate.
The caveat, as always, is what would happen should their talisman Jamie Vardy suffer a long-term injury. Leicester’s top scorer is a doubt for the Chelsea game after another flare-up of his ongoing hip problem.
Yet, Ayoze Perez impressed as a false No9 in the FA Cup win at Stoke City recently, while Barnes’ pace and energy makes him a possible deputy for Vardy.
‘The common denominator of us dropping off over the last ten games of last season was that we were missing our best players. It’s as simple as that,’ said former Celtic manager Rodgers. ‘If we look at the team now, a year on, I think there have been developments from a tactical perspective and also mentality wise.’
Southampton were tough opponents in an excellent game, but Maddison’s brilliant strike eight minutes before half-time opened the door and, after Leicester had wasted several chances on the break, Barnes settled the matter in stoppagetime with his tenth goal of the season. Saints will always struggle without striker Danny Ings, who was unavailable after his recent positive test for Covid-19. But Scotland midfielder Stuart Armstrong was once again an outstanding presence in midfield and Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will regret not scoring when they were on top in this game in the opening 25 minutes.
‘We did our best with the options we have,’ said the Southampton boss. ‘We have nine players who are out injured at the moment but we are fighting for everything.’
LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 7; Castagne 7, Fofana 6 (Soyuncu 53), Evans 7, Justin 7; Ndidi 7, Tielemans 8; Albrighton 6, Maddison 7 (Perez 76), Barnes 7; Vardy 6 (Iheanacho 90). Subs not used: Ward, Amartey, Under, Pereira, Mendy, Thomas. Booked: Fofana, Albrighton. SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-2-2): McCarthy 7; Walker-Peters 6, Bednarek 7, Stephens 5, Bertrand 6; Ward-Prowse 6, Diallo 6 (Valery 87); Armstrong 7, Smallbone 6 (N’Lundulu 61); Walcott 6, Adams 7 (Long 72). Subs not used: Forster, Vokins, Ferry, Tchaptchet, Watts, Chauke. Booked: Diallo, Bertrand. Man of the match: Youri Tielemans. Referee: Stuart Attwell.