Barnes boost for Brendan as Foxes ace shows quality
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BRENDAN RODGERS hailed the returning Harvey Barnes after his superb finish rescued a draw for Leicester at a raucous Elland Road.
The winger, making his first league start since injuring his knee in early October, cut short Leeds’ celebrations after Raphinha had put the home side ahead.
And Foxes manager Rodgers said Barnes’ return gives his stuttering Foxes a huge boost after their patchy start to the season.
“He was great when he came on at half-time against Arsenal last weekend and he is returning more to himself,” said Rodgers.
“He is a huge talent and as the season goes on he will get better and better. He really showed his quality with that finish.”
Leicester were denied a winner when Ademola Lookman’s 67th-minute tap-in following Jamie Vardy’s header was ruled out by VAR for offside.
Rodgers initially questioned the decision, suggesting the line had been drawn on the screen at the wrong moment.
But he eventually conceded the mistake was presentational rather than wrong.
“I saw the clip everyone saw where the line was drawn and in that image the ball had already left his head,” he said.
“But I think they showed the wrong picture. They got it right but it was tough to take.”
A point for Leicester was fair against a vibrant and physical Leeds, who went close several times before and after Raphinha’s free-kick opened the scoring on 26 minutes.
Yet there was frustration from head coach Marcelo Bielsa that they held the lead for as long as it took for Raphinha to be booked for removing his shirt to reveal a tribute to the hugelypopular Brazilian singer Marilia Mendonca, who was killed in a plane crash on Friday.
From the restart, a long ball by Jonny Evans, helped on by Boubakary Soumare, found Barnes by the left touchline.
Cutting on to his right foot, he curled a lovely finish inside the far post.
Jack Harrison should have put Leeds back in front, getting a knee to Kalvin Phillips’ header from a corner, but he somehow put it over from a yard out.
And the visitors could also have stolen the three points shortly after, a mistake from Liam Cooper allowing Vardy to steal possession, only for Youri Tielemans to take too long over his shot and allow Illan Meslier to smother.
Leeds had their own chances in a supercharged finish, Raphinha hitting the best of them over from the edge of the box.
LEEDS (4-2-3-1): Meslier 5; Dallas 6, Llorente 7, Cooper 6, Struijk 6; Phillips 7, Forshaw 6 (Cresswell, 90); Raphinha 6, Rodrigo 4, Harrison 7 (Roberts, 83); James 6. Goal: Raphinha 26.
LEICESTER (4-3-3): Schmeichel 6; Ricardo 6, Evans 7, Soyuncu 5, Castagne 5; Ndidi 6, Soumare 7, Tielemans 7 (Dewsbury-Hall 77); Lookman 6 (Maddison 80), Vardy 6, Barnes 7 (Amartey 70, 6). Goal: Barnes 28.