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

James Maddison's socially distanced celebration — James Maddison celebrated his goal by adhering to new Covid-19 protocols

Leicester City climbed to second in the Premier League as they won a keenly contested encounter with fellow top-four hopefuls Southampton at King Power Stadium.

James Maddison fired in from a tight angle after 37 minutes, the Foxes midfielder instructing his team-mates to stand back as he performed a socially distanced celebration, before Harvey Barnes added a second deep into second-half stoppage-time.

Victory takes Leicester within one point of leaders Manchester United, who travel to third-placed Liverpool on Sunday, while Southampton are eighth, three points outside the top four.

The Saints dominated in the opening stages and created the first opening when Che Adams stretched the home defence on the counter-attack, while Leicester's Barnes' powerful drive forced Alex McCarthy into action with the game's first shot after 19 minutes.

The visitors, without talisman Danny Ings after the striker tested positive for Covid-19 last week, went close to a response through Ryan Bertrand and Will Smallbone either side of half-time but neither could find a way past Kasper Schmeichel.

In an entertaining conclusion, Stuart Armstrong rattled the Leicester crossbar with an excellent strike from the edge of the penalty area, while Jan Bednarek produced a superb goalline clearance to deny Barnes and the returning McCarthy saved from Jamie Vardy as both sides pushed for a late goal.

It took Leicester until the 95th minute to seal the three points, Barnes calmly slotting past McCarthy on the break.

Foxes maintain pressure at top

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers challenged his side to "disrupt the Premier League hierarchy" after a 2-1 win over Newcastle in their last league outing maintained their top-four hopes.

Victory in this stern test ensured they continue to do just that.

Enjoying their longest unbeaten run of the season, their streak now at six matches in all competitions since defeat by Everton a month ago, Rodgers' side delivered an assured performance to remain firmly in contention at the top.

Despite their lofty position as the halfway stage approaches, Leicester have struggled at home this campaign - their four defeats in eight at King Power Stadium in 2020-21 is as many as they suffered in the entirety of last season.

Though largely frustrated in the early exchanges as the visitors retained possession, Leicester's superior quality in attack eventually ensured that record was improved with Maddison turning sharply to meet Youri Tielemans' through-ball before drilling home.

The in-form Barnes once again impressed and eventually got the goal his performance deserved to equal his best season tally of 10 after just 24 games.

Unlike last season's post-Christmas collapse, the Foxes are yet to show signs of falling away. Maddison - involved in six of Leicester's last 12 league goals - and Barnes are easing the pressure on Vardy to deliver every week and there appears the strength in depth to better maintain this challenge.

The only concern for Rodgers at the end of a pleasing night was the sight of Vardy appearing to limp off as he was replaced by Kelechi Iheanacho in the final minutes.

More to follow.

Player of the match

SchmeichelKasper Schmeichel

with an average of 7.70

Leicester City
Southampton

Leicester City

Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel
Average rating
7.70
Squad number15Player nameBarnes
Average rating
7.43
Squad number10Player nameMaddison
Average rating
7.38
Squad number2Player nameJustin
Average rating
7.37
Squad number11Player nameAlbrighton
Average rating
7.35
Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Average rating
7.21
Squad number25Player nameNdidi
Average rating
7.20
Squad number6Player nameEvans
Average rating
7.05
Squad number4Player nameSöyüncü
Average rating
6.94
Squad number27Player nameCastagne
Average rating
6.67
Squad number9Player nameVardy
Average rating
6.59
Squad number3Player nameFofana
Average rating
6.57
Squad number17Player nameAyoze Pérez
Average rating
6.31
Squad number14Player nameIheanacho
Average rating
5.77

Southampton

Squad number1Player nameMcCarthy
Average rating
7.12
Squad number35Player nameBednarek
Average rating
6.96
Squad number17Player nameArmstrong
Average rating
6.92
Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse
Average rating
6.50
Squad number2Player nameWalker-Peters
Average rating
6.41
Squad number3Player nameBertrand
Average rating
6.34
Squad number20Player nameSmallbone
Average rating
6.24
Squad number10Player nameAdams
Average rating
6.22
Squad number32Player nameWalcott
Average rating
6.17
Squad number27Player nameDiallo
Average rating
5.87
Squad number40Player nameN'Lundulu
Average rating
5.86
Squad number7Player nameLong
Average rating
5.76
Squad number5Player nameStephens
Average rating
5.61
Squad number18Player nameValery
Average rating
5.47

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Leicester

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Schmeichel
27Castagne
3FofanaBooked at 15minsSubstituted forSöyüncüat 53'minutes
6Evans
2Justin
25Ndidi
8Tielemans
11AlbrightonBooked at 45mins
10MaddisonSubstituted forPérezat 77'minutes
15Barnes
9VardySubstituted forIheanachoat 90+1'minutes

Substitutes

4Söyüncü
12Ward
14Iheanacho
17Pérez
18Amartey
19Ünder
21Ricardo Pereira
24Mendy
33Thomas

Southampton

Formation 4-4-2

1McCarthy
2Walker-Peters
35Bednarek
5Stephens
3BertrandBooked at 59mins
17Armstrong
27DialloBooked at 44minsSubstituted forValeryat 87'minutes
8Ward-Prowse
20SmallboneSubstituted forN'Lunduluat 61'minutes
32Walcott
10AdamsSubstituted forLongat 72'minutes

Substitutes

7Long
18Valery
29Vokins
40N'Lundulu
44Forster
47Ferry
62Tchaptchet
65Watts
72Chauke

Referee:: Stuart Attwell

Match Stats

Home TeamLeicesterAway TeamSouthampton

Possession: Home48%; Away52%

Shots: Home16; Away8

Shots on Target: Home5; Away3

Corners: Home2; Away5

Fouls: Home10; Away11

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Leicester City 2, Southampton 0.
90'+6'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Leicester City 2, Southampton 0.

90'+5'
Goal!
Goal! Leicester City 2, Southampton 0. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Youri Tielemans following a fast break.
90'+4'
Post update
Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
90'+3'
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Çaglar Söyüncü.
90'+2'
Post update
Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Marc Albrighton (Leicester City).
90'+1'
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Jamie Vardy.
90'
Post update
Offside, Leicester City. Marc Albrighton tries a through ball, but Ayoze Pérez is caught offside.
89'
Post update
Attempt missed. Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Marc Albrighton.
87'
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Yan Valery replaces Ibrahima Diallo.
85'
Post update
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Alex McCarthy.
85'
Post update
Attempt saved. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by James Justin.
85'
Post update
Attempt missed. Daniel N'Lundulu (Southampton) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kyle Walker-Peters with a cross.
83'
Post update
Offside, Leicester City. Timothy Castagne tries a through ball, but Ayoze Pérez is caught offside.
83'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ayoze Pérez with a cross.
80'
Post update
Foul by James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).
80'
Post update
Marc Albrighton (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
78'
Post update
Attempt missed. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
77'
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Ayoze Pérez replaces James Maddison.

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Comments

Join the conversation

99 comments

We’re just double checking this comment.
Not a Leicester fan but hope Leicester to go on to win the league, big Rogers fan, I wanted him at Arsenal a few seasons ago when we had a chance to get him. Could be the next British manager to do well in the league.
Leicester looking good . I suspect Saints 9/8th this season .
Well play Leicester against a tough Southampton side
Not a supporter of either team.
Well done to both teams for showing others what football is about.
True English football, no hype, no battle of the words, no mind games, no overhyped players, no overpaid bench warmers, no overhyped players - 2 teams within the upper leagues of English football showing the rest how it is played on and off the pitch.
Good tactical game with quality players on show. Two well taken goals with celebrations that should be applauded.
Keep going Vardy your a city legend.
We’re just double checking this comment.
🍬🍬🍬🦊💙
A bit of an off day for Vardy but the others stepped up and got the goals. Second half we really pressed them and created some good chances a deserved win.
You could call this a Leicester master piece, and you could be right. Wonderful display by Leicester. The game should've had more goals but both teams did a good job at the back and justified their current ratings.
Shame Ings Vestergard and Romeo weren’t available tonight. Still a really good shift from the team Ralph had available against a good Leicester side and their extra man the ref.
Saints and Leicester will still be upsetting the so called big six and PL monopoly for the rest of the season which is like a breath of fresh air. Good luck to them both
FilbertJohn replied:
Leicester had the extra man the ref you must be joking Attwell was a disgrace both Diallo and Bertrand should have had red cards.
Just waiting for player of the match to be announced. I would much prefer it if the bbc could stop being so woke. I did check and there were only men playing this match so please could we have a man of the match? It’s not much to ask for, thanks. Also I do realise that there are more important things happening at the moment, it doesn’t stop the validity of my statement though .
With Leicester where they are after selling their best players and Maguire is an achievement in itself.
Karan Winter replied:
AND Maguire. ;-)
The big boys play tomorrow..

Tune in for the world champions liverpool fc...
Peter replied:
It's arrogant comments from morons like Dave that makes the rest of football root for the Foxes and Saints of this world... Please can you go back under whatever low lying rock you crawled out of...?
And I bet Garth Crooks still won't include any Leicester players in his team of the week...... 👿
tv replied:
That's fine. We'll get with things under the radar
All these people saying Leicester have no chance of winning the league. Too funny. 18 games in, above Liverpool, Man City, Tottenham etc, but no chance of winning the league apparently, how could it even enter our minds. I mean, it's never happened before..........has it..........
Depeche1966 replied:
Leicester are excellent and no mugs with Rodgers at the helm !! I would have Rodgers at Spurs any day of the week to see him work with the players and some decent attacking football !! The Turgid one needs to go !!
5 points to safety
Im not a Leicester fan as my home team but when they win I feel it’s my team that have won if not better, I truly love how they are doing

Birmingham city can

Kro
shadow warrior replied:
Fan *
Well done Leicester, very tough game tonight against a hard working Saints side.
What a great game. City were excellent after the first 20 mins, which Soton bossed. Two really good teams out there tonight.

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