Southampton v Leicester City: Expect goals on the south coast

Leicester City travel to Southampton on Wednesday night looking to pile even more pressure on Ralph Hasenhuttl. Ben Steele expects a high scoring game...

Potential movers go head to head

After a flurry of managerial changes over the last few weeks saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Nuno Espirito Santo lose their jobs, the next Premier League manager to leave their club market has opened up again. While Rafa Benitez is favourite, second and third on the list are the men leading Leicester and Southampton on Wednesday.

Brendan Rodgers ([5/1] to be the next to leave) has overseen an inconsistent start to the season with Leicester. Losses to Chelsea, West Ham and Arsenal were levelled out by impressive wins over Manchester United, Watford and a strong start to their Europa League campaign in a tough group.

Southampton have won just three games this term, beating Leeds, Watford and Aston Villa, all 1-0, and Saints have particularly struggled in recent weeks. Better teams than Southampton will lose at Anfield, but their loss to Norwich City is more worrying.

Hasenhuttl - 13/5 to be the next man gone - has seen his side fail to create clear cut chances week in week out. Mohamed Elyounassi, Che Adams and Armando Borja have made the most of their limited opportunities, but it doesn't bode well for their beleaguered manager.

Foxes failing to fix leaky defence

Kasper Schmeichel has a reputation as one of the best keepers in the league but this season it has been tough going for Denmark's number one. Leicester's defence has been ravaged by injuries, eight different defenders have played at least five games already this year, and that lack of consistency has caused huge problems.

In all competitions Rodgers' side have kept just two clean sheets - against Wolves on the opening day of the season and Milwall in the Carabao Cup. All that adds up to City coming into the game with the fourth worst defensive record in the league which Saints will hope to capitalise on.

Southampton's gameplan was ruined on Saturday when they conceded after just 97 seconds against Liverpool, but it was interesting to see them line up with all three of their strikers - Adams, Armstrong and Broja - even against a side as threatening as the Reds.

1280 Che Adams Southampton friendly 2021.jpg

Southampton are likely to roll the same line-up out again at home and, with Leicester's defensive troubles, twinned with their own attacking prowess, I'm backing Over 3.5 Goals @ 15/8.

Vardy and rejuvenated Maddison stepping up

The 2015/16 champions may well have the fourth worst defence in the league but only the top four and Manchester United have scored more. Unsurprisingly it is Jamie Vardy who is responsible for the majority of that production.

The veteran frontman has scored nine of his sides 20 league goals, only Mo Salah has more, and snapped a six game goalless streak on Sunday with a typically instinctive brace.

All the more pleasing for Rodgers will be the fact that Vardy combined twice with James Maddison for his goals and the midfielder found the net himself for the second game in a row.

Maddison's inconsistent form has mirrored his own side's problems but if he can keep up his recent form Leicester to win @ 2.9 looks good value in what should be an entertaining game.

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