Southampton v Leicester City preview: Steven Davis misses out
Sunday 22 January 2017 14:18, UK
Southampton will be looking to snap their worst losing run since December 2014 when Leicester City visit St Mary's, live on Nissan Super Sunday.
The 1-0 defeat at Burnley last weekend was Southampton's fourth Premier League loss in a row - they haven't lost five on the spin since the opening five games of the 1998/99 season.
Live Nissan Super Sunday
Goals have been a big issue for Claude Puel's men, only Middlesbrough (17) have scored fewer than their tally of 19 this campaign.
Last season's Premier League champions Leicester are still without an away win in the league this term.
The only reigning top-flight champion to have fewer points after 21 games than Leicester have currently are Ipswich Town in 1962/63 (18, assuming three points for a win).
Team news
Steven Davis remains sidelined for the clash after failing to recover from a knock sustained in the defeat at Burnley.
However, Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Bertrand, who weren't risked in midweek against Norwich, are back in contention.
Sofiane Boufal, Charlie Austin, Alex McCarthy, Matt Targett and Jake Hesketh all are out injured.
Leonardo Ulloa will miss the game as he struggles to shake off a thigh injury.
The striker has handed in a transfer request following an offer from Spanish side Alaves but the Premier League champions want to keep the 30-year-old.
Defender Luis Hernandez is in Spain to finalise a move to Malaga but boss Claudio Ranieri has no fresh injury worries.
Opta stats
Southampton have won just one of their last seven league meetings with Leicester (D2 L4), including two defeats in the Sky Bet Championship in 2011/12
However, Leicester have never won a Premier League game at St Mary's (D3 L1), last beating Southampton away in the competition 2-1 at the Dell in April 2000
Southampton have the lowest shot conversion rate of any Premier League side this season (6.1 per cent)
The Foxes are still waiting for the first away league win since April 2016 (D5 L7)
Merson's prediction
There's no doubt in my mind that Southampton will have one eye on next week's EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool. They are 90 minutes away from a cup final at Wembley and they can't help but have an eye on Jurgen Klopp's men.
This will be an entertaining game though because I can't see either side sitting back. I'm still going to go for Southampton in this one because I've been very disappointed in Leicester.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Southampton are Sky Bet's 4/5 favourites for the victory with Leicester 19/5 while the draw is priced at 12/5. The bookies are considering this very much a mid-table battle, with the Saints 4/9 to finish in the top 10 while their visitors are now out to 2/1.
Puel is not offered much help in picking his first-choice striker with Jay Rodriquez and Shane Long tied at the head of the first goalscorer market at 4/1, while Jamie Vardy is rated the Foxes' main threat at 13/2 to net first.
Get a Sky Sports Day Pass. The best Sky Sports action for 24 hours, all from just £6.99!
