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What are Steve Cooper’s chances of staying at St Mary’s? Despite the victory against Southampton, Cooper could be at risk of being sacked if he continues to make this same mistakes that have consistently led to losses for the Foxes.
Leicester City returned to Premier League action on Saturday with an away match against Southampton. The Foxes entered the game knowing that securing three points at St Mary’s was vital for their survival hopes.
Leicester had just beaten Bournemouth 1-0 in their previous league match, moving them to 15th in the table before kickoff. However, that win was only Steve Cooper’s first as Leicester’s manager, and a loss to Russell Martin’s side could have pushed them back into the relegation zone.
The match was expected to be tightly contested, with both teams struggling to adapt to life in the Premier League after their respective promotions. In the end, Leicester managed to edge out a 3-2 victory.
Despite the win, Leicester fans hoped to see their team build on the success against Bournemouth, but they started the match poorly. Cameron Archer put Southampton ahead after just eight minutes, with the goal coming from the right side of Leicester’s defense—an area that has been a vulnerability this season.
James Justin has primarily played right-back for Leicester, but he has struggled early in the 2024/25 season, as demonstrated against Southampton. Yet, Cooper has not started experienced right-back Ricardo Pereira at all in the Premier League this term, raising concerns that the manager’s stubbornness is costing the team goals.
Cooper’s failure to utilize Pereira prior to the Southampton game has puzzled fans and could lead to his dismissal. Many supporters are calling for Cooper’s exit, and the latest match has only intensified their frustrations.
While losses to stronger teams like Arsenal and Aston Villa were anticipated for a newly promoted side, matches against teams like Southampton are essential for staying in the Premier League. Leicester has quality players, but if Cooper continues to mismanage them, his time at King Power Stadium may soon be over. They were fortunate to win against the Saints, but ongoing poor decisions could jeopardize his position.
