Southampton vs Leicester preview, team news, stats, kick-off time, live on Sky Sports

Team news and stats ahead of Southampton vs Leicester in the Premier League on Friday (kick-off 8pm).

Team news

Southampton's top scorer Danny Ings will be absent for Friday's Premier League clash with Leicester.

The striker was forced off by a hamstring injury during last week's defeat at Tottenham, with Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl unsure when he will be fit to return.

Forward Michael Obafemi has returned to training following surgery on a muscular injury but is not expected to feature, while Ryan Bertrand (calf), Oriol Romeu (ankle) and Will Smallbone (knee) remain sidelined.

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Harvey Barnes has been ruled out of Leicester's final five games as he needs further knee surgery.

The England winger has been out since February after suffering the injury to his left knee against Arsenal.

Defenders Wes Morgan (back) and James Justin (knee) are also unavailable for Brendan Rodgers.

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How to follow

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Southampton vs Leicester will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 7.30pm; kick-off 8pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.

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Live FNF

Last time out...

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Jones Knows prediction...

Are Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho the new Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son? One of the most popular betting theories that cost the bookies a few quid earlier this season revolved around Kane and Son assisting each other to find the net in a game. Sky Bet's "Return the Favour" bet revolving those two landed three times earlier in the season - at 150/1 away at Manchester United, 66/1 at home to West Ham and 50/1 at home to Arsenal in December.

Strike partnerships are seemingly a fading trend in modern day football but chemistry certainly is sparking between Vardy and Iheanacho in recent weeks as Leicester have negotiated their way to an FA Cup final and made safe of their place in the top four.

• Hasenhuttl exclusive: Resilience, faltering form and Ings' future
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The pair have worked together to create 10 chances since March 3 with three goals resulting from their link-up. Also, although it didn't go down as an official assist, it was Vardy's break down the left that set up Iheanacho for the winning goal in the 1-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Saints earlier this month. One of 12 goals he has scored in his last nine appearances.

Southampton, who have lost 12 of their last 15 games, have conceded the most goals of any team since January 1 (39) - that's nine more than any other side in that period. It's amazing to think they were top of the Premier League on November 6. The Foxes will have plenty to feast on with Vardy and Iheanacho to the fore in what should be an away win.

I'd say the Vardy-Iheanacho return the favour (Vardy to assist Iheanacho and Iheanacho to assist Vardy) certainly is worth a look at 80/1 with Sky Bet. It's a bet that would've copped in the 5-0 win over Sheffield United, so recent data is obviously there to support it. You can play the safer option with the 9/2 for Vardy to assist Iheanacho OR Iheanacho to assist Vardy rather than both.

JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 1-2

BETTING ANGLE: Jamie Vardy to assist Kelechi Iheanacho and Iheanacho to assist Vardy (80/1 with Sky Bet)

Opta stats

• Southampton have lost their last three Premier League home games against Leicester by an aggregate score of 15-2. Their 9-0 defeat in this fixture last season is the biggest home defeat by any side in English top-flight history.
• Leicester won the reverse fixture 2-0 in January, but haven't done the double over Southampton in the Premier League since the 1999-00 campaign.
• Southampton have lost twice to Leicester already this season, 0-2 in the league and 0-1 in the FA Cup. The last time they lost three times to the same opponent in a season was against Chelsea in 2017-18, while the last time they did so without scoring was against Derby in 1997-98.
• Southampton have taken just 10 points from their 16 Premier League games so far in 2021 (W3 D1 L12), fewer than any other side this calendar year. Saints have lost 12 of their last 15 league games (W2 D1), a run which began with defeat against Leicester.
• Southampton have conceded 11 goals in their last six home league games (0 clean sheets), accounting for 55% of their total goals conceded at St Mary's so far this season. They had kept six clean sheets in their first nine home league games this term.

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• Southampton have dropped more points from winning positions than any other Premier League side this season (21). At home they've dropped a league-high 14 points, failing to win almost as many games when scoring first as they've won (W5 D1 L4).
• Leicester's defeat at West Ham ended a run of 10 away league games without defeat (W6 D4). The Foxes haven't lost consecutive Premier League games on the road since their final two such games of 2019-20.
• Leicester's Ayoze Pérez has scored more Premier League goals against Southampton than he has against any other side in the competition (7). This includes two hat-tricks against Saints, including one in Leicester's 9-0 win in this fixture last term.
• Leicester's Jamie Vardy has scored five goals in five Premier League appearances against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium, including a hat-trick in this fixture last season. Despite averaging a goal-per-game at the ground, he's failed to score in more games there (3) than score (2).
• Southampton's Theo Walcott has scored five goals in his 10 Premier League appearances against Leicester, only netting more against Tottenham and West Ham in the competition (6 each). His five goals against the Foxes have come at three different stadiums - 2x Emirates, 2x Goodison Park and 1x King Power Stadium.

Pitch to Post Preview: Jamie Carragher on Man Utd v Liverpool; Plus: Chelsea's striker problems and Arsenal's issues on and off the field

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher joins Peter Smith to look ahead to Manchester United's Super Sunday clash with Liverpool. He assesses United's big Europa League semi-final win over Roma and where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side need to strengthen if they are to be Premier League challengers next season. Plus, he gives his verdict on Liverpool's top four hopes - and how they can come out on top in their must-win trip to Old Trafford.

Sky Sports features writer Nick Wright is also on the show, discussing Chelsea's misfiring strikers ahead of their clash with Fulham, and also offering his insight on Arsenal's Europa League semi-final defeat to Villarreal, what needs to change before next week's second leg, and the wider ownership debate which has led to fan protests. He also shares his Pitch for what he thinks will happen in the Premier League this weekend!

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