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Southampton vs Leicester City: The Best XI

By Aaron Preston

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: Jordy Clasie of Southampton in action with Daniel Drinkwater and Shinji Okazaki of Leicester City during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Southampton at The King Power Stadium on April 3, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: Jordy Clasie of Southampton in action with Daniel Drinkwater and Shinji Okazaki of Leicester City during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Southampton at The King Power Stadium on April 3, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 21: Charlie Austin of Southampton celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium on September 21, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 21: Charlie Austin of Southampton celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary’s Stadium on September 21, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Charlie Austin

You simply have to put Austin here. No ifs, ands or buts about it. The former bricklayer-turned-pro-footballer has been in blazing form these past few weeks, scoring five goals in four starts across all competitions. When he’s on, he’s on, and right now the 27 year old shows no sign of switching off anytime soon.

Austin didn’t feature in the outing vs Hapoel Be’er Sheva earlier this week, having been left home to rest ahead of this weekend’s fixture. Given that, Southampton fans will be expecting their number 10 to get the start, and hoping the good times keep rolling.

Jamie Vardy

What do you get when you take the pace of the Saints’ Shane Long and add in the clinical finish of Charlie Austin? Lately, you get Jamie Vardy.

Another diamond in the rough player, the lightning-quick 29 year old Vardy was instrumental in Leicester’s title run last year. This year he’s netted two goals and two assists through all competitions, a respectable haul for eight appearances.

His pace is sure to give defenders trouble this time out as he takes the long balls from Drinkwater and looks to ram them down the throats of any who stand in his way. At 29, coming from non-League football and with one good season to his name, some may be tempted to write him off as a flash in the pan. I’m not convinced. Vardy is a great player and a danger to any defence he comes against.

So, as we wind up, the final tally is 6 players to Southampton and 5 to Leicester City. What’s it all mean to the match ahead? A great game, with nothing on paper to separate the two sides. At the end of the day, it’ll come down to luck and whoever wants it more.