Leeds United 1-1 Leicester City
As Premier League encounters go, what an enjoyable afternoon this was for the neutral.
End-to-end, chances galore and the only certainty was the uncertainty – that and the fact this was never going to be a goalless draw (if it had been, you’d have earned a nice little payday with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds).
As it turned out, there was a goal apiece and a point apiece with Premier League highlights from two teams whose managers like to attack; two teams in need of points for very different reasons.
Highlights of the game
When the teams were announced there was just one change for Leeds from their priceless victory at rock bottom Norwich City as Adam Forshaw came in for Jamie Shackleton.
That meant the home side remained without Luke Ayling (knee), Robin Koch (pelvis) and Patrick Bamford (ankle) as they aimed for back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
There were many more alterations for Leicester with five changes from the team which produced a battling European display on Thursday night against Spartak Moscow.
Out went Daniel Armartey, Ayoze Perez, Ryan Bertrand, Patson Daka and Kelechi Iheanacho with Wilfred Ndidi, Ricardo Pereira, Ademola Lookman, Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy all handed starting berths.
James Justin, Wesley Fofana and Marc Albrighton all remained out.
There has been an element of pressure on both teams recently with Leeds expected by many to be in the top half following their ninth-place finish last term.
Meanwhile, because FA Cup winners Leicester have finished fifth in the past two seasons, anything less can appear somehow failure to their critics – amazing given their achievements have surpassed any feats by any other English clubs over the past five years.
Nevertheless, the home side was planning to give the Foxes a rude welcome at Elland Road, while the visitors clearly were being stoked up with the ‘willpower’ of some players questioned in the build-up to the match by manager Brendan Rodgers.
Both sides went on the attack from the off with Harvey Barnes shooting straight at Illan Meslier before Jack Harrison’s deflected strike was superbly tipped away by Kasper Schmeichel.
Midway through the first half and the man who has inspired Leeds so often this season did so again as Raphinha bent a free-kick into the danger zone and Schmeichel was unable to get a hand to the ball which nestled in the corner.
Yet the celebrations were short-lived as the Foxes levelled immediately with the home side failing to restore their shape from the kick-off as Barnes cut in from the right and curled a delightful finish into the top corner from a very difficult angle.
Leeds were nearly back in front before half-time as Pereira stuck out foot at a corner and the ball rattled the post.
It was Leicester’s turn to go close after the break as Youri Tielemans rifled a shot that flew narrowly wide.
How Harrison failed to score, or at least direct the ball on target, from close range was a mystery and Leeds again went closest as club-record signing Rodrigo volleyed into the side netting.
It looked like Leicester had gone in front midway through the second half when Vardy flicked the ball on and Lookman applied the finishing touch, only for VAR to rule he was offside.
And that was that as neither could grab a winner as the two sides stay in 15th and 12th place respectively.
Key statistics
Leicester have won four of their past six league visits to Leeds, as many as they had on their previous 16 trips to Elland Road.
Leicester are one short of 200 Premier League victories.
They have scored in 13 consecutive top-flight away matches for the first time since a run from April to December 1960.
The Foxes have not recorded a clean sheet since the opening weekend of the season.
They have conceded 19 set-piece goals (excluding penalties) since the start of last season.
What’s next?
After the international break, Leeds head to North London in a fortnight’s time to take on Spurs. A day earlier (November 20), Leicester entertain leaders Chelsea before meeting Legia Warsaw in the Europa League the following midweek.
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