Southampton has climbed out of the relegation zone after a crucial 1-0 win against Leicester City at St Mary’s. The result sees the Saints move one point ahead of 17th-placed Leeds United and above Bournemouth, who lost 3-2 away to Arsenal earlier in the day.
The game’s only goal came in the 35th minute, courtesy of January signing Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz, who arrived from Real Betis, had only been on the pitch for five minutes before he tucked away his first goal for the Saints to snatch a vital three points.
The goal came just minutes after Danny Ward had saved a penalty from James Ward-Prowse. It was the Southampton captain’s second penalty miss in as many games, but his side was able to bounce back from the disappointment and secure the win.
Leicester had their chances to equalize, with Kelechi Iheanacho spurning three good opportunities. The Foxes also had a late chance, with Harry Souttar hitting the bar with a header seconds before the final whistle. The result was a huge boost for Southampton, who had not won a Premier League home game since August.
They had only recorded one victory in their last ten league games and desperately needed a win to move away from the relegation zone. The victory was a welcome relief for manager Ralph Hasenhüttl, who was under pressure after a dismal run of form. The Austrian hopes this result can spur his side on to further success this season and help them move up the table.
On the other hand, Leicester remains in 15th place, three points above the relegation zone. The Foxes have lost three consecutive league games and will be looking to return to winning ways soon.
The result was a huge setback for manager Brendan Rodgers, who hopes his team can bounce back quickly and maintain their place in the top half of the table. Overall, it was a huge win for Southampton, who have now moved off the bottom of the Premier League table. The Saints can now look to the future with renewed optimism, while Leicester hopes to get back on track as soon as possible.