Southampton host Premier League champions Leicester City this afternoon (12pm kick-off) with both sides desperate for all three points.

Claude Puel’s Saints have lost their last four league games, and have fallen from seventh on Christmas Day to 13th place in the table.

Nonetheless, they have beaten Liverpool in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final and got past Norwich in an FA Cup third round replay on Wednesday night, so they aren’t totally out of form ahead of today’s game with Leicester.

The Foxes themselves have had a tricky few weeks, as they beat Everton 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup on January 7, but then got thumped 3-0 by league leaders Chelsea last weekend.

Claudio Ranieri’s men have struggled in their title defence, and find themselves just five points above the bottom three with just 17 games to go.

With the build-up well underway ahead of today’s clash, here are the THREE key battles which could determine the outcome of this afternoon’s encounter…

Shane Long vs Wes Morgan

When you’re a bit out of form and hoping for a slightly easier afternoon, the last forward you’d want to be facing is Southampton’s Shane Long.

The former Reading and West Brom striker scored a 92nd minute winner for the Saints in their 1-0 victory over Norwich in the FA Cup midweek, and that was indicative of his never-say-die attitude and desire to keep going until the very end.

It also translates to his efforts on the pitch, as the Republic of Ireland international is often tenacious off-the-ball, doesn’t give defenders time on it, and chases down every lost cause.

And, against a Leicester side that have conceded 21 goals on the road this season, this could spell problems.

Ranieri’s men have been poor at the back so far this season, and captain Wes Morgan will admit that he himself has not been good enough. But he’ll have to be to thwart the threat posed by Long today.

It’s unlikely that Ranieri will play three at the back like he did against Chelsea, and that familiarity and a return to the rigid system that worked so well for them last season could be exactly what they need against the Saints this afternoon.

Oriol Romeu vs Danny Drinkwater

With both teams struggling a bit going forward and indeed at the back, you’d expect today’s game to be scrappy and played mainly in the middle of the park.

Thus, whoever comes out on top between Southampton’s Oriol Romeu and Leicester’s Danny Drinkwater could determine the outcome of the match.

Spanish midfielder Romeu has been excellent since he moved to St Mary’s in 2015, and has regularly been one of their highest ranked performers over the last 18 months.

His ability to control the tempo of the game and indeed protect his back four will be crucial for Puel’s side this afternoon, although Leicester’s Drinkwater will want to do a similar thing for his side.

The England international has not been at last season’s high standards so far this term, but it’s clear that he’s got the ability to pull the strings in the middle of the park.

These two will likely try and force the other out of their comfort zone this afternoon, so expect quite the battle in the centre of midfield.

Virgil van Dijk vs Jamie Vardy

There aren’t too many defenders that can live with Jamie Vardy’s pace and agility, but Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk is one of them.

The Dutch international has been sensational at the heart of the Saints defence this season, which has seen him linked with several top sides, and the developing situation surrounding centre-back partner Jose Fonte doesn’t appear to have unsettled him.

In fact, he and Maya Yoshida look just as solid and dependable as the van Dijk and Fonte partnership, and they’ll need to be sharp against Leicester’s Vardy this afternoon.

Like many Foxes this season, the England international hasn’t been as good as last time round, but he still has it in him to terrorise defenders and cause them problems.

Like Long, Vardy’s tenacity will keep van Dijk honest throughout the contest, and how well the defender marshals the Englishman will be crucial in deciding the outcome of today’s clash.