Leicester vs Southampton predictions: Saints can give Foxes a fright

Southampton will be in the mood to stun Leicester on Saturday in a clash that will always evoke memories of the Foxes' 9-0 evisceration of the Saints on the south coast three years ago. 

Ralph Hasenhuttl's men gained instant retribution for that humbling defeat when they won at the King Power Stadium less than three months later, but Southampton have a new reason for seeking revenge over Brendan Rodgers' side. 

The Austrian manager was seething when interviewed after Leicester's 4-1 win over his side on the final day of last season, insisting the hosts should have gifted the Saints a goal because their opener was tinged with controversy. 

Referee Jon Moss wrongly awarded the ball to Leicester after a stoppage with James Maddison eventually punishing Lyanco's error after Jamie Vardy had latched onto Kasper Schmeichel's ensuing long clearance. 

It mattered little in the grand scheme of things as Southampton were already safe - but the visitors could channel any lingering sense of injustice into a determined display. 

Team news

Leicester received a welcome boost with the news that winger Harvey Barnes is available this weekend after missing the first two games of the campaign with a knee injury he sustained in pre-season. 

Barnes' return will allow Rodgers to abandon the 3-5-1-1 system that he had deployed to suit the available personnel in the first two games and revert to his preferred 4-3-3 shape. 

Maddison seems likely to switch over to the right of that formation with Youri Tielemans, Wilfred Ndidi and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall operating in midfield. 

Full-backs Ricardo Pereira and Ryan Bertrand remain out with Achilles and knee problems respectively, so Timothy Castagne and James Justin will take those roles on either side of Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana. 

The Frenchman will start, despite Leicester rejecting two bids from Chelsea for him, while Boubakary Soumare is not being considered as talks continue over his move away. 

Southampton have no new injury issues following their 2-2 home draw with Leeds last weekend. 

Romain Perraud, Tino Livramento and Theo Walcott are long-term absentees for the Saints, who have Brazilian defender Lyanco back available this weekend following a knee injury. 

Although he has been deemed fit enough to make the matchday squad, Che Adams missed a few training sessions this week and could make way for Adam Armstrong or Joe Aribo in the most likely change to last Saturday's line-up. 

The stats

Both Leicester and Southampton have displayed defensive fragility this season, conceding six Premier League goals apiece so far. 

Maddison has been a key contributor to the Foxes' attacking output at the other end, however, with only Liverpool's Darwin Nunez having taken more Premier League shots than the England international so far this season. 

Maddison has scored four goals in his last seven appearances against the Saints, but even that impressive strike rate is eclipsed by Foxes teammate Ayoze Perez. 

The Spaniard has scored nine goals in 13 Premier League appearances against Southampton, three times as many as he has netted against any other opponent. 

However, Southampton's James Ward-Prowse also has a habit of scoring in this fixture - three of his four goals in total have come from the penalty spot. 

Prediction

Both teams should register at some stage on Saturday because neither team has shown any real aptitude for solid defending this season. 

Hasenhuttl's insistence on setting up with a high defensive line could be punished by Vardy's pace again. 

But Southampton looked good going forward at Tottenham a fortnight ago and may have enough attacking quality to deny the hosts a victory in a closely-fought contest.