Southampton mounted an incredible comeback, overcoming a 3-0 deficit against Leicester to clinch a thrilling 4-3 victory, leaving the former Premier League champions precariously positioned just above the relegation zone.
Leicester’s interim manager, Andy King, seemed poised for his first win in charge after goals from on-loan Manchester City prospect Divine Mukasa, Patson Daka, and Abdul Fatawu during the first half.
However, after substitute Ross Stewart scored to lessen the gap, Leicester’s fragile confidence began to crumble. Goals from Jack Stephens, Ryan Manning, and Shea Charles sealed the win, extending Leicester’s winless streak to six matches and leaving home fans in a state of unrest.
Only seven years after inflicting a 9-0 defeat at St Mary’s and just two years post an impressive five-goal haul on Southampton’s last visit to King Power Stadium, Leicester entered the match hoping to regain three of the six points deducted by the EFL.
However, still in search of a permanent manager following Marti Cifuentes’ exit and lingering dangerously near the relegation zone, Leicester’s current form contrasts starkly with the team Southampton faced in April 2024.
After a missed opportunity from Cameron Archer, who shot over the bar from six yards, Leicester seemed set for another high-scoring win, having scored within the first 13 minutes of the match.
Mukasa capitalized on Archer’s blunder, scoring his first goal after receiving a well-timed lay-off from Daka. Daka then doubled the lead after intercepting a poor back pass, rounding goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, and slotting the ball into the net.
Southampton gathered briefly on the pitch after conceding twice in the opening half, but it failed to halt the momentum as Fatawu extended Leicester’s lead in the 29th minute. After receiving a pass from Mukasa, he struck an impressive angled shot that left Peretz helpless.
Stephy Mavididi almost added to the tally, but his curling effort narrowly missed the target. Southampton’s offense was limited, with a blocked attempt from Archer by Caleb Okoli preventing a goal.
Stewart ignited the comeback with a stunning 61st-minute finish from Scienza’s pass. Only eight minutes later, Stephens capitalized on a defensive scramble to score, followed by Manning’s close-range header five minutes afterwards, both assisted by Scienza.
Finally, in stoppage time, Charles, who along with Stewart and Manning had come off the bench, scored a thunderous strike past Begovic.
In the wake of the defeat and the recent six-point deduction, Leicester now sits 21st in the Championship with just 32 points from 32 games.
This report includes information from PA.