Leeds 1-1 Leicester: 3 Noticeable factors you may have missed

A disappointing conclusion for Leicester City as they dropped two vital points at Elland Road. A stalemate result leaves a bad taste for the Foxes. The long-lasting recurring problems at Leicester City could have taken a back seat if Brendan Rodgers‘ boys could have come out as winners in this away fixture. Week in week out, the reputation of similar problems is making the fans frustrated to get behind the manager’s tactics.

We cannot blame the fans for it; however, it is getting to a point where you cannot help but wonder if we are moving in the right direction. After 11 games in the Premier League, the King Power Club stands in 12th place with 15 points to their name. The sixth-placed Manchester United is at 17 points, astonishingly just 2 points above the Foxes. So it can all turn around for City when players like Wesley Fofana and James Justin can make their much-needed comebacks to lay the foundation for the side’s defense.

Rodgers came into this fixture with a different line-up, exempting players like James Maddison, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Daniel Amartey. With a 4-3-3 formation making a comeback, Jamie Vardy, aided by Harvey Barnes and Ademola Lookman, was chosen to lead from the front. Leeds capitalized early on from a brilliant free-kick from Raphinha.

Split seconds later, during the 28th minute, from the kick-off following that goal, Barnes placed a brilliant shot in the top right corner to deny Leeds’ lead for long. Just with five touches, the Foxes equalized what remained the final scoreline of the match. Lookman found his name into the scoresheet momentarily before it was ruled offside by the VAR. Both the sides pressed strenuously, but nothing more substantial came out of the remaining time.

Leicester City’s 3 noticeable factors

Unable to contend the main threat – The Blue Army was running out of breath whenever the Leeds number 10 was on the ball. The Brazilian Raphinha was shockingly given lots of pockets of spaces to trouble Leicester City. It makes you wonder why he was left uncontested to channel in crosses and make so many orchestrational plays from the left side of the field. Even on a few instances, Leeds was unlucky as Dan James and others despite, getting into goal-scoring positions, couldn’t place a decent kick for the finish.

Schmeichel to the rescue – A reassuring factor for all the East Midlanders would be the stunning performance from their captain. Kasper Schmeichel made four splendid saves that kept his side in the fight.

Marcelo Bielsa’s instructions were to attack and maintain a high press. Therefore, a lot of the time, it looked unlikely that the Foxes would be able to contain them with their defensive shortcomings reemerging every week. Interestingly Leicester also used the fundamental zonal marking to defend corners in this match, contrasting to their traditional style of a hybrid man to man incorporated with zonal.

Sloppy on one, brilliant on the other – Vardy kept hovering in front of Leeds’ defensive line, hoping to catch them off guard. Though, support from his immediate right didn’t help much as Lookman didn’t have a good game. If his goal would’ve stood, we would be saying that he compensated for his shortcomings, but it was an uninspiring performance from the loaned player. Obviously, with his name on the scoresheet, Barnes sparkled in this game.

In the final moments of the game, we got to witness Rodgers get cautious: he chose to share points rather than push for one and get done by on a counterattack. With limited minutes remaining, he trusted Amartey to protect the lead. The Foxes switching to a back three for better compliance.