Relief for Leicester City as they end their barren run against Southampton

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03-05-2025

Jamie Vardy ended Leicester's long wait for a home goal in the Premier League as they defeated Southampton 2-0 in a clash between two already-relegated teams.
Vardy's opener at the King Power Stadium was the 38-year-old's 199th goal in a Foxes shirt and set Ruud van Nistelrooy's side on their way to a first win since January.
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Jordan Ayew added a second before half-time for the Foxes to leave the Saints still needing one more point to avoid a share of the competition's lowest-ever total - Derby's 11 from 2007-08.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis had a decent chance to head Southampton into a sixth-minute lead, but his effort from Mateus Fernandes' corner was comfortably saved by Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
However, there could not have been a more popular opening goalscorer as Leicester finally found the net at home in the league for the first time since Bobby De Cordova-Reid's equaliser against Brighton on December 8, 2024.
In the 16th minute, Luke Thomas put Bilal El Khannouss in behind down the left and his low ball into the box was smashed high into the net by Vardy who moved within one goal of his Foxes double-century.
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There was then a bizarre incident when referee David Webb took an accidental blow to the head from Ayew, who only had eyes on play, and required treatment - after Vardy had blown his whistle to stop the match.
Unfortunately for Webb he could not continue, so fourth official Sam Barrott took charge for the remainder of the contest.
Leicester were quickest to find their feet again after the 12-minute delay and doubled their lead after 44 minutes when Ayew hit a powerful drive into the bottom corner from outside the box after the Ghanaian had struck a free-kick into the wall.
The lively El Khannouss almost scored a third for the hosts in first-half stoppage time when his attempted cross looped onto the top of the bar.
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Southampton's performance could only improve after the break and they came close to pulling a goal back when Stolarczyk did well to keep out Paul Onuachu's header from Kamaldeen Sulemana's cross.
It was only a brief flurry from the visitors, with Leicester almost adding to their lead further when Wilfred Ndidi's shot from El Khannouss' corner was deflected wide.
Vardy almost reached his 200-goal milestone when his free-kick was beaten away by Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
El Khannouss ignored the chance to play in Vardy as he rolled a shot wide after breaking into the Saints half with seven minutes left as the hosts coasted to a rare victory.
05:21 PM BST
One more match at Goodison Park
The fans brought a cup-final atmosphere, but Everton's players could not hold on to three points. Moyes will no doubt be disappointed.
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Their final game at Goodison before moving to a new stadium will be on May 18 against hapless Southampton. They will fancy their chances.
That's it from me, thanks for reading.
David Moyes applauds the home fans after Everton's 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town - AFP/Oli Scarff
05:16 PM BST
Bournemouth seek capital gains
There is one more Premier League match to be played today. Arsenal host Bournemouth, kicking off at 5.30pm BST, with the away side pushing for a top-eight finish and a place in Europe. Daniel Zeqiri has you sorted, follow it here.
05:13 PM BST
Stat attack
05:12 PM BST
Full-time scores
Aston Villa 1 Fulham 0 (12.30pm kick-off)
Everton 2 Ipswich Town 2
Leicester City 2 Southampton 0
05:05 PM BST
Full-time: Leicester City 2 Southampton 0
A late Paul Onuachu header sails a few centimetres wide of the post, summing up Southampton's miserable afternoon.
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In cruise control in the second half, Leicester City win the battle of the Premier League flops and their 12-game winless run is over. They scored their first league goals at home this year - since a December 8 2-2 draw with Brighton.
Jakub Stolarczyk celebrates a rare Leicester City win - Action Images/Andrew Couldridge
05:00 PM BST
Full-time: Everton 2 Ipswich Town 2
Ipswich were pressing for the winner, though taking off Enciso for Tuanzebe was an odd, defensive gambit. One point apiece. Worth watching that Enciso stunner again and again too.
A frustrating finish for Everton and turn-around after starting the game so strongly. They move up to fourteenth in the table, Ipswich Town remain 18th.
04:56 PM BST
Vardy trots off
Jackson Daka comes on. The club captain has three more matches to take his tally to 200 Leicester City goals. But as the ninetieth minute approaches, the home side has surely done enough for a rare, confidence-boosting victory.
04:51 PM BST
Six minutes of stoppage time at Goodison
It has been getting a bit heated, with pushing and shoving between Branthwaite and Hirst. Just the eight yellow cards so far. Can Everton or Ipswich score a last-gaps winner?
04:46 PM BST
A captain's performance from Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy, goal-scorer and whistle-blower - Getty Images/Plumb Images
04:42 PM BST
79 mins: Everton 2 Ipswich Town 2
... Not anymore they're not. Ipswich have turned the match around and scored an equaliser.
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Hutchinson whips a ball into the back post from the byline and substitute George Hirst gets up high to nod it home.
George Hirst heads home Ipswich's equaliser - Offside/Simon Stacpoole
04:39 PM BST
78 mins: Everton 2 Ipswich Town 1
The home side are holding on. Back from a hamstring injury, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be coming on soon for his first appearance in three months.
04:37 PM BST
Leicester City close to ending 12-game winless run
Leicester City had not scored a goal at home or won a match since January. With Jamie Vardy rolling back the years and Jordan Ayew's smart finish this afternoon, the run of twelve winless matches is close to being over.
The game has fizzled out somewhat in the King Power, which Ruud van Nistelrooy probably will not mind. Into the final 20 minutes.
04:33 PM BST
70 mins: Everton 2 Ipswich Town 1
No goals yet in either match in the second-half. Everton are not bossing the match like they were in the first 30 minutes.
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Kieran McKenna sends on Kalvin Phillips, Jack Clarke and George Hirst. Liam Delap, Sam Morsy and Conor Chaplin come off. Delap has had a feisty match, getting a yellow card earlier for a pushing match with Jake O'Brien.
04:26 PM BST
Disallowed goal for Southampton
Nothing is going right for hapless Southampton, and they are not getting any luck either. Jakub Stolarczyk parried Paul Onuachu's header against Mateus Fernandes. The ball went into the back of the net but was ruled out for offside.
04:21 PM BST
60 mins: Everton 2 Ipswich Town 1
Ipswich have come out more brightly, with pacy and direct Julio Enciso causing more problems. He has been down with a knee injury, but it looks like he can continue.
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The Paraguayan pops up with a chance from 20 yards but no issues for Jordan Pickford.
Julio Enciso has been one of Ipswich Town's most dangerous threats against Everton - Reuters/Peter Powell
04:15 PM BST
Two Southampton changes at the King Power
The second-half is underway after the 12-minute delay for referee injury and replacement. Tyler Dibling and Paul Onuachu is on for Jack Stephens and Ross Stewart.
04:10 PM BST
Everton and Ipswich back under way
That excellent Enciso goal was a sucker punch, given how in control Everton had been. It is game on for Ipswich, pushing for an equaliser.
04:06 PM BST
Happy days for replacement ref Barrott
Referee Sam Barrott replaced David Webb for Leicester City v Southampton after Webb collided with Jordan Ayew - Reuters/Chris Radburn
03:58 PM BST
Half-time scores
Everton 2 Ipswich Town 1
Leicester City 2 Southampton 0
03:54 PM BST
44 mins: Leicester City 2 Southampton 0
Jordan Ayew fires a free-kick into the wall, it bounces kindly straight back to him and he lashes a low shot back into the net. Leicester City have breathing space now.
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By the way, Bilal El Khannouss has been a classy, constant menace; he will surely have a fair few suitors this summer.
03:50 PM BST
Twelve minutes of stoppage time at the King Power
That's due to the injury to referee David Webb and lengthy stoppage. A memorable debut for Webb - well, here's hoping he does remember it and recovers quickly.
Meanwhile, it is half-time at Goodison Park. Everton are not cruising any more after that Enciso sizzler.
03:46 PM BST
41 mins: Everton 2 Ipswich Town 1
Ipswich's deficit has been halved, as Julio Enciso scores one of the goals of the season. The youngster jinked past two Everton midfielders before sending a 30-yard shot into the top right corner. In off the crossbar. It does not get much sweeter than that.
Julio Enciso's long-distance goal for Ipswich Town - Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
03:40 PM BST
35 mins: Everton 2 Ipswich Town 0
Dwight McNeil is back in the line-up for the first time in five months after undergoing knee surgery. He has marked his return - and his 100th appearance for the club - with a goal.
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He fires the ball into the bottom left corner from 25 yards out, given too much space by the Ipswich defence.
Dwight McNeil scores Everton's second against Ipswich Town - Getty Images/Jan Kruger
03:33 PM BST
Injured referee out of action
Play has been delayed for the last ten minutes. Leicester's Jordan Ayew accidentally ran into referee David Webb, his shoulder making contact with his face, sending him sprawling. Jamie Vardy, of all people, picked up the whistle and blew to pause play.
He has been through a concussion protocol and it looks like Webb cannot continue. Up steps fourth official Sam Barrott. You do not see this very often...
Referee David Webb lies injured after colliding with Leicester City's Jordan Ayew. Jamie Vardy blows the referee's whistle - PA/Adam Davy
03:30 PM BST
26 mins: Everton 1 Ipswich Town 0
The opener was coming, with Everton the better team, and here it is... Beto moved well between two statue-esque Ipswich defenders to head Alcaraz's cross home. No saving that. The home fans are going wild after that.
Beto heads home Everton's opener - AFP/Oli Scarff
03:24 PM BST
An acrobatic attempt from Beto goes well wide
Everton attacker Beto goes for it with a bicycle kick - Getty Images/Jan Kruger
03:20 PM BST
17 mins: Leicester 1 Southampton 0
Who else but Jamie Vardy? He gets to 199 Leicester City goals and scores their first goal at home since January 11.
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El Khannouss had space on the left, swept the ball in and Vardy took it sweetly on the half-volley, lashing the ball into the top-left corner.
03:16 PM BST
Beto threatens
Goodison Park is rocking, charged with emotion as home fans savour one of their last chances to watch a match there. Everton are on the up too: Beto threatens with a close-range header, but Ipswich's Alex Palmer between the sticks is equal to it.
03:10 PM BST
10 mins: Leicester 0 Southampton 0
The visitors have started more brightly, with Jakub Stolarczyk holding a Taylor Harwood-Bellis header well from a corner. Kamaldeen Sulemana has been running at the Leicester defence, causing problems.
03:02 PM BST
The pair of 3pm games have kicked off
We are under way at Goodison Park and the King Power Stadium for Everton v Ipswich and Leicester City v Southampton.
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Those line-ups one more time:
Everton XI Pickford; Patterson, O'Brien, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Ndiaye, McNeil, Alcaraz; Beto
Ipswich Town XI Palmer, O'Shea, Woolfeden, Burgess, Greaves, Morsy, Taylor, Hutchinson, Chaplin, Enciso, Delap
Leicester City XI Stolarczyk, Justin, Faes, Coady, Thomas, Skipp, Ndidi, McAteer, El Khannouss, Ayew, Vardy
Southampton XI Ramsdale, Stephens, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters, Downes, Ugochukwu, Manning, Fernandes, Kamaldeen, Stewart
02:54 PM BST
Leicester's Jamie Vardy warms up
Jamie Vardy doing his pre-match exercises - Getty Images/Alex Pantling
02:51 PM BST
Everton fans pay tribute to their home ground
It is Everton's penultimate match at Goodison Park, their home since 1892 - AFP/Oli Scarff
02:43 PM BST
Beleaguered Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy
The Dutchman is still none the wiser about his future at the club. 'No, still hoping to find out. Of course, the quicker the better, it's in the best interest of the club. But no news so far,' he said in his pre-match press conference.
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You can read the inside story of Leicester City's doomed season here: dressing room problems, players excluded and crunch talks for Van Nistlerooy.
A rude awakening for Van Nistelrooy since taking over at the King Power - Reuters/Chris Radburn
02:35 PM BST
Down the narrow Goodison Park corridors, a proper old school stadium
02:31 PM BST
Last-day drama in the Championship
There have been goals galore in a frenetic final day in the Championship. Leeds will be promoted as champions and Luton have been relegated to League One - back-to-back relegations for them. Coventry's Frank Lampard have made it into the play-offs after seeing off Middlesbrough 2-0.
The same goes for Bristol City after a rousing fight back from two goals down against Preston. 2-2 is enough to squeak into the play-offs. Their fans pour onto the pitch to celebrate.
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You can follow the last-minute Championship shake-ups here.
02:28 PM BST
Form book makes for glum reading
Southampton and Leicester City fans have had precious little to cheer about in the last three months. Neither will want a draw in this battle of the Premier League's two worst teams.
At the King Power, the home side have lost their last nine matches by an aggregate score of 22-0 and have had fewer shots on target (98) than any other team.
A reason to be cheerful? The Midlanders have won their last three games against Southampton. In October's reverse fixture, Jordan Ayew scored a last-minute winner in a 3-2 victory.
Leicester City fans could do with a last bit of magic from the soon-to-be-departing Jamie Vardy - Getty Images/Gareth Copley
02:19 PM BST
Villa v Fulham in stoppage time
It looks like Aston Villa are home and hosed. After Youri Tielemans' classy early opener, they are set to beat Fulham 1-0, a boost in their push for a Champions League place. You can follow it on Telegraph Sport here.
02:16 PM BST
Leicester vs Southampton line-ups
Leicester City XI Stolarczyk, Justin, Faes, Coady, Thomas, Skipp, Ndidi, McAteer, El Khannouss, Ayew, Vardy
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Subs Iversen, Okoli, Kristiansen, Coulibaly, Soumaré, Golding, Monga, Daka, Evans
Southampton XI Ramsdale, Stephens, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters, Downes, Ugochukwu, Manning, Fernandes, Kamaldeen, Stewart
Subs McCarthy, Bree, Wood, Aribo, Smallbone, Dibling, Archer, Onuachu, Robinson
Ruud van Nistelrooy rings in the changes, given their injury problems. Five in total, as goalkeeper Stolarczyk, Justin, Skipp, McAteer and Ayew start.
In contrast, it's an unchanged line-up for Southampton, who were unfortunate to go down 2-1 at home to Fulham to a last-minute Sessegnon winner last weekend. But then, par for the course for the Premier League that has dropped the most points from a winning position, 28.
02:05 PM BST
Those Everton-Ipswich teams in black and white
Everton XI Pickford; Patterson, O'Brien, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Ndiaye, McNeil, Alcaraz; Beto
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Subs Virginia, Keane, Calvert-Lewin, Harrison, Chermiti, Young, Broja, Coleman, Iroegbunam
Ipswich Town XI Palmer, O'Shea, Woolfeden, Burgess, Greaves, Morsy, Taylor, Hutchinson, Chaplin, Enciso, Delap
Subs Walton, Godfrey, Boniface, Tuanzebe, Luongo, Phillips, Cajuste, J. Clarke, Hirst
Two changes for both sides. For Everton, Dwight McNeil and Argentinian midfielder Carlos Alcaraz in for Jack Harrison and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Kieran McKenna makes two changes to his Ipswich side. With Ben Johnson suspended after his red card against Newcastle last weekend, Omari Hutchinson comes in. Conor Chaplin replaces Jack Clarke.
01:54 PM BST
Southampton team
01:54 PM BST
Leicester City starting XI
01:52 PM BST
Ipswich Town team: Hutchinson replaces suspended Johnson, Chaplin in for Clarke
01:51 PM BST
Everton's line-up: Two changes with McNeil and Alcaraz in for Harrison and Doucoure
01:48 PM BST
A pair of 3pm kick-offs featuring the three relegated sides
Good afternoon and welcome to Telegraph Sport's live, minute-by-minute Premier League clockwatch.
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There are two 3pm BST kick-offs to get stuck into on a summery Saturday afternoon, with four teams in the underbelly of the league table looking to end their campaigns on a high note after flattering to deceive. (And that is putting it extremely kindly for Southampton and Leicester City).
Fifteenth-placed Everton are at home to Ipswich Town. The relegation of Kieran McKenna's side was confirmed last week following their 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United. This will be the home tean's penultimate game at Goodison Park before moving to a brand spanking new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
'The pressure the players and the club have been under in the last few years has been incredible,' manager David Moyes said. 'Our pressure now is to play well at Goodison for the supporters, for the families that have been here for years and years. It is not [the] pressure of if we will survive or not.' Three points today would take them over the 40-point threshold and into thirteenth place, above Wolves and Manchester United.
The Premier League's two basement teams face off in what some wags have dubbed 'El Crapico'. 2015/16 champions Leicester City have not won in 12 games, Southampton have been winless for eleven. Something has to give, surely. If little else, it is an opportunity to salvage a modicum of pride and prepare for their match-up in the EFL Championship in a matter of months time.
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At least Southampton have avoided the ignominy of having the outright lowest points tally in Premier League history, currently tying the 2007/08 Derby side with 11.
Southampton's interim manager Simon Rusk has a full squad at his disposal, while Leicester are missing goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, Facundo Buonanotte, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Ricardo Pereira. Meanwhile, under-fire manager Ruud van Nistelrooy says he is 'still hoping to find out' about his future at the club.
Team line-ups and pre-match build-up on the way shortly.
Everton's long tenure at Goodison Park nears its conclusion - PA/Cody Froggatt
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