GOING THE DISTANCE
Foxes fell away last term but look real deal now
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 incredibly difficult to repeat the title win of 2016, Leicester’s target is to right the wrong 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 meant they were pipped to a Champions League place.
There are still 20 matches to go, starting with a crucial fixture at home to Chelsea tomorrow, but there is every reason to believe Leicester can go one better this time. The squad is deeper, thanks to clever recruitment which brought defenders Timothy Castagne and Wesley Fofana to the club.
The young English players are improving, too: between them, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes have 17 goals in all competitions this season, while full-back James Justin delivered another impressive performance in front of England manager Gareth Southgate.
The caveat, as always, is what would happen should 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 No 9 in the FA Cup win at Stoke, while Barnes’ pace and energy make him a possible deputy for Vardy.
‘The common denominator of us dropping off over the last 10 games of last season was that we were missing our best players. It’s as simple as that,’ said Rodgers. ‘If we look at the team now, a year on, I think there have been developments from a tactical perspective and 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 stoppage time with his 10th goal of the season.
Saints will always struggle without Danny Ings, who was unavailable after his recent positive test for Covid-19, but Stuart Armstrong was outstanding in midfield and Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side will regret not scoring when they were on top in the opening 25 minutes. ‘We did our best with our options,’ said Hasenhuttl. ‘We have nine injured but we are fighting for everything.’ LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 7.5; Castagne 7, Fofana 6 (Soyuncu 53min, 6.5), Evans 7, Justin 7; Ndidi 7, TIELEMANS 8; Albrighton 6.5, Maddison
7.5 (Perez 76), Barnes 7.5; Vardy 6 (Iheanacho 90+1). Subs not used: Ward, Amartey, Under, Pereira, Mendy, Thomas. Scorers: Maddison 37, Barnes 90+4. Booked: Fofana, Albrighton. Manager: Brendan Rodgers 7.5. SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-2-2): McCarthy 7; Walker-Peters 6, Bednarek 7, Stephens 5.5, Bertrand 6; Ward-Prowse 6.5, Diallo 6.5 (Valery 87); Armstrong 7.5, Smallbone 6.5 (N’Lundulu 61, 6); Walcott 6.5, Adams 7 (Long 72, 6). Subs not used: Forster, Vokins, Ferry, Tchaptchet, Watts, Chauke. Booked: Diallo, Bertrand. Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl 7. Referee: Stuart Attwell 6.5.