Leicester City 2-0 Southampton: James Maddison and Harvey Barnes send Foxes second

Leicester City climbed to second within the Premier League as they received a keenly contested stumble upon with fellow top-four hopefuls Southampton at King Power Stadium.

Victory takes Leicester inside of one level of leaders Manchester United, who commute to third-placed Liverpool on Sunday, whilst Southampton are 8th, 3 issues outdoor the highest 4.

The Saints ruled within the opening phases and created the primary opening when Che Adams stretched the house defence at the counter-attack, whilst Leicester’s Barnes’ robust power pressured Alex McCarthy into motion with the sport’s first shot after 19 mins.

The guests, with out talisman Danny Ings after the striker examined certain for Covid-19 ultimate week, went as regards to a reaction via Ryan Bertrand and Will Smallbone both sides of half-time however neither may give you the chance previous Kasper Schmeichel.

In an entertaining conclusion, Stuart Armstrong rattled the Leicester crossbar with a very good strike from the threshold of the penalty space, whilst Jan Bednarek produced a excellent goalline clearance to disclaim Barnes and the returning McCarthy stored from Jamie Vardy as each side driven for a past due function.

It took Leicester till the 95th minute to seal the 3 issues, Barnes lightly slotting previous McCarthy at the destroy.

Foxes deal with force at peak

Leicester supervisor Brendan Rodgers challenged his facet to “disrupt the Premier League hierarchy” after a 2-1 win over Newcastle of their ultimate league day trip maintained their top-four hopes.

Victory on this stern take a look at ensured they proceed to do exactly that.

Enjoying their longest unbeaten run of the season, their streak now at six fits in all competitions since defeat by means of Everton a month in the past, Rodgers’ facet delivered an confident efficiency to stay firmly in competition on the peak.

Despite their lofty place because the midway level approaches, Leicester have struggled at house this marketing campaign – their 4 defeats in 8 at King Power Stadium in 2020-21 is as many as they suffered within the entirety of ultimate season.

Though in large part annoyed within the early exchanges because the guests retained ownership, Leicester’s awesome high quality in assault sooner or later ensured that document was once stepped forward with Maddison turning sharply to fulfill Youri Tielemans’ through-ball sooner than drilling house.

The in-form Barnes as soon as once more inspired and sooner or later were given the function his efficiency deserved to equivalent his easiest season tally of 10 after simply 24 video games.

Unlike ultimate season’s post-Christmas cave in, the Foxes are but to turn indicators of falling away. Maddison – interested in six of Leicester’s ultimate 12 league objectives – and Barnes are easing the force on Vardy to ship each week and there seems the energy intensive to raised deal with this problem.

The most effective worry for Rodgers on the finish of a delightful evening was once the sight of Vardy showing to limp off as he was once changed by means of Kelechi Iheanacho within the ultimate mins.

More to observe.