🏏 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:00 GMT
Southampton
vs
Leicester
4-2-3-1 vs 4-2-3-1
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- An FA Cup third-round tie between two Championship sides, Southampton and Leicester. Both clubs were relegated from the Premier League and are eager to make a deep cup run while pursuing promotion back to the top flight.
- Kuryu Matsuki starts as Southampton's right-sided midfielder. The Japanese midfielder joined Southampton from FC Tokyo via a loan at Goztepe (Turkey), and his strong physique and accurate left foot are his weapons. He is expected to get involved in goals from an attacking-midfield position, and the FA Cup is a big chance for Matsuki to make his case.
- Southampton's 4-2-3-1 features Cameron Archer in the hole behind a lone striker, Cyle Larin. Canada international Larin, a former MLS Rookie of the Year, threatens the Leicester back line with his goalscoring instinct and runs in behind.
- Leicester's bench includes Jannik Vestergaard and Joe Aribo. The 199cm centre-back Vestergaard previously played for Southampton, making this a return to his old ground at St Mary's. Attacking midfielder Aribo is also a former Southampton player, so any appearance off the bench would add a former-club angle.
- Oliver Skipp starts in Leicester's midfield. Signed from Tottenham for 20 million pounds, the ball-winning defensive midfielder won the Championship title during his loan at Norwich. The midfield battle for control with Matsuki and Bragg is likely to decide the direction of the match.
- With both teams lining up in a 4-2-3-1, this has the look of a mirror match. The tactical focus is which side's central midfield pairing seizes control. Southampton's Romeu, an experienced defensive midfielder who came through Barcelona and Chelsea, makes the midfield duel with Skipp well worth watching.
- George Long starts in goal for Southampton. For the veteran keen to make the most of his cup-tie minutes, this is also a chance to push his case for the No.1 spot. Leicester, too, field Jakub Stolarczyk, with both clubs opting for a goalkeeper other than their first choice.
- Southampton reached the FA Cup final in 2003, while Leicester won the FA Cup for the first time in their history in 2021. Trailing in cup pedigree, can Southampton use home advantage to show some grit?