Hello and welcome to our coverage of today’s lunchtime kick-off. If Leicester City win today, they’ll move seven points clear of Tottenham with six games left.

But they have to get past a decent Southampton side first. They’re unbeaten in their last three games and, last time out, they pulled off that excellent 3-2 win over Liverpool.

Let’s bring you the team news, firstly.

Here’s how Leicester will line up this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Saints’ starting XI looks like this.

Leicester are unchanged from their win over Palace. Vardy and Okazaki lead the line with Mahrez, as usual, supplying quality from out wide.

Four changes for Southampton. Sadio Mane, who scored twice against Liverpool, is back in the team while Victor Wanyama, Cedric Soares and Matt Targett are selected too.

This isn’t very smart.

That Leicester defence of Simpson/Morgan/Huth/Fuchs has started together on 21 occasions in the league. They’ve kept an astonishing 11 clean-sheets.

If there’s been one fundamental difference Claudio Ranieri has made since taking over, it’s been strengthening the rearguard. Magnificent performances from Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Drinkwater and N’Golo Kante have helped too, allowing the attacking forces to have the freedom further up the pitch.

At St. Mary’s in October, Southampton were 2-0 up after 37 minutes. But Jamie Vardy conjured a second-half brace, including a last-gasp equaliser, to ensure a share of the spoils.

By the way, on this day last year, Leicester were bottom of the Premier League. Perspective.

Leicester looking very relaxed in the tunnel as Kasper Schmeichel and Wes Morgan share a joke. They don’t seem to be very highly-strung.

KICK-OFF! 

And we’re up and running. Ranieri quick to bark out instructions in the lunchtime sunshine here.

Mahrez forces a corner as he runs at Targett, who forced him onto his right foot. The delivery ends with Fuchs trying to divert a header toward the corner but it drifts harmlessly wide.

By the way, Southampton have reverted to three at the back today. They played 4-2-3-1 in the 2-2 draw last October so they obviously fear the explosive attacking threat posed by the Foxes. They’ve decided on some extra protection this afternoon.

Oooh. Bertrand turns back and plays a poor pass towards Forster. Not advisable to do that with Vardy around and he almost gets to it before the keeper. It ends with the former Celtic shot-stopper mis-kicking off his left foot and Leicester get the ball back. Silly from the Saints.

Interesting…sure beats a plane flying a banner asking for the manager to get the sack.

Good pressure from Leicester in the last few minutes. Firstly, Vardy pops up in the right channel and sends in a dangerous cross that has Okazaki sniffing. From the resultant corner, Wes Morgan sees his left-footed strike deflected for another set-piece. They’ve had 66% of the ball which is very unlike them, actually!

That’s very simple yet very effective from Leicester. Simpson sends a ball down the right side for Mahrez who takes a brilliant first touch. Hard to know where the Saints defence have gone but they manage to quell the attack when he stabs in a low cross to the far post. Okazaki, as ever, was hovering.

Vardy accidentally handles but Michael Oliver doesn’t spot it. He charges down the left, attacking the by-line, before whipping in a superb cross into the six-yard area for Okazaki. But the striker needs to throw himself at it and doesn’t. It fizzes right across and Southampton survive again.

Better from the guests as Pelle makes the run into the channel, beating the offside trap, and lofts in a cross to the near-post. Morgan steps across and heads it out for a corner.

Mane does very well to burst clear and lead the counter attack. He spreads it to Pelle, who pulls wide left. He swings in a cross that sees two Leicester players go for it. Eventually, Southampton force another corner and they’ve been brighter in the last five or ten minutes here.

Not really clicking for Leicester in attack at the moment. Lots of defenders back for Southampton and Mahrez can’t squirm past all of them. Instead, he tees up Fuchs on the edge of the area and his effort is wasteful.

CLOSE! Leicester are in some trouble down their left side. Southampton have had a bit of joy down that flank and Fuchs and Albrighton need to get sharper. Cedric whips in a decent cross and Pelle rises highest to send a powerful header towards goal. It’s just a little too high but encouraging for the visitors.

VERY CLOSE! That really should be a penalty for Southampton. Pelle holds it up well, gets turned and spots Mane as he tears off through the middle. It’s a perfectly-weighted pass and Mane takes it in his stride. He slows up approaching Schmeichel, takes it around the keeper and clips it towards the goal but Danny Simpson runs across the shot and blocks it with his elbow. Somehow, Oliver waves play on. It would’ve hit Simpson anyway but it’s a handball and it should be a spot kick. Major let-off for Leicester.

VERY CLOSE! What a hit from Fonte! No one is expecting the centre-back to take on the shot but he unleashes a superb drive from outside the area. It’s really travelling and dipping too and Schmeichel gets his fingertips to it and pushes it over the top. Wonderful effort.

GOAL! Morgan! 

Fine margins. Southampton really should’ve had a penalty at one end and moments later, they take the lead. It’s a magnificent cross from Fuchs from the left side and Morgan is there to send a great header to the bottom corner.

On the balance of things, you’d have to think Southampton will score here but that’s not to say the hosts won’t grab another one or two themselves. The Vardy and Mahrez threat has been minimised but, as Morgan proved, they have others who can step up.

HALF-TIME! 

Leicester started the game well and were bright in the opening exchanges but Southampton started to take control and exploit some holes in the home side’s defence. Pelle saw a decent header drop sail just over before the controversial moment when Danny Simpson handled Sadio Mane’s goal-bound effort. Somehow, Michael Oliver didn’t give a penalty. Then, Fonte had an excellent long-range effort tipped over by Schmeichel.

Then, Morgan scored. Right out of the blue. Call it luck, call it a sign of champions but it’s all in their hands right now.

SECOND HALF! 

SUBSTITUTION! Tadic (on) – Targett (off) 

Southampton have changed their shape for the second half. They’re gone with four at the back and bring in an attacking threat to help boost their chances here.

BOOKING! Right from kick-off, Wanyama mis-controls and Vardy races clear. The midfielder brings him down and even though the challenge is a long way from goal, there’s a possibility that it could’ve been a goalscoring opportunity. But he only gets a yellow and it’s probably the right call.

BOOKING! Drinkwater is done by Tadic down the left side and the midfielder wrestles the substitute to the ground. He goes in the book for his troubles.

Pressure growing on Leicester here but they haven’t cracked yet. Pretty simple tactic from the Saints – send in some crosses. The home side have looked nervy under high balls and Pelle, in particular, may have a crucial role to play here yet.

Southampton have a few issues here. Wanyama is having a bit of a nightmare and is on a yellow card now. Meanwhile, Cedric wastes a decent opportunity by scuffing a right-wing cross. Game’s gone a bit scrappy here.

VERY CLOSE! What a stop from Fraser Forster. Drinkwater picks it up in the right channel and tries to arc a pass around Fonte and into the path of Vardy. The centre-back stretches out a desperate foot to try and cut it out but succeeds in lobbing it up and over his own goalkeeper. It seems destined to bounce into the net but Forster somehow gets a hand to it and claws it away. Incredible.

SUBSTITUTION! Ulloa (on) – Okazaki (off)

Leicester change it up. They know they really need a second here to be sure. Southampton look dangerous and certainly have the ability to find the net.

Leicester get numbers back as Bertrand flashes in a tame strike that harmlessly hits the side-net. As the Saints seem to be running out of ideas, Ronald Koeman is set to make two final changes.

VERY CLOSE! Oh, dear. How costly could Danny Simpson’s miss prove to be? It had to be a second for Leicester. Vardy did all the hard work and stabbed a low cross into the danger area. Simpson, with the goal at his mercy, put the ball right at Forster as the keeper scrambled across his goal. A big miss.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Austin & Ward-Prowse (on) – Clasie & Davis (off)

A last throw of the dice from Koeman as he looks to rescue something from this.

BOOKING! Leicester are penned back inside their own area here as Southampton send in a range of crosses. 15 minutes to play. Can they nick an equaliser? Meanwhile, Tadic is the latest to pick up a yellow card.

SUBSTITUTION! Gray (on) – Mahrez (off)

The youngster given twelve minutes of a shift. And it’s about holding on for Leicester here.

Drinkwater tries his luck from distance but it’s always veering away from goal. The changes haven’t had an immediate effect on Southampton and despite their added numbers in attack, there seems a lack of movement and energy up there. Shane Long is badly missed.

VERY CLOSE! Kante charges through the middle and spreads it wide for Ulloa. He’s dispossessed but it’s recycled and Albrighton finds Vardy at the far post. He pushes his way through and looks to finish to the net but there’s Forster against to deny with his legs. A terrific display from the keeper.

Time ticking away here. Fuchs has gone in the book for trying to waste a few more seconds. Southampton appear to have little in the tank here.

SUBSTITUTION! Dyer (on) – Albrighton (off)

There’s going to be five minutes of added time and the crowd don’t like it. Another substitution whittles down the clock.

FULL-TIME! 

Leicester City go seven points clear at the top of the table with six games left. At this stage, even if they suffer a couple of setbacks, they’ll still be in control. Wes Morgan’s first-half header proves to be enough and that’s four 1-0 victories in a row now.

Not pretty but certainly effective.

Thanks for staying with our coverage and there’ll be plenty more reaction on the site throughout the day.