Extra-Time Talking Points: Ndidi, Barnes & Rodgers' Influence
- Matt Elliott and Tony Cottee starred on LCFC Radio's Extra-Time show on Monday night
- The former Leicester City duo assessed the Foxes' 3-1 victory over Liverpool at King Power Stadium
- Wilfred Ndidi and Harvey Barnes were both praised for their performances at the weekend
- The panel also previewed City's UEFA Europa League trip to Slavia Prague on Thursday (5:55pm GMT kick-off)
The pair joined host Dan Bates to discuss all the major talking points from Saturday's 3-1 win over the reigning Premier League champions at King Power Stadium.
The Foxes came from behind to claim all three points late on and Brendan Rodgers' side remain third in the Premier League table as it stands.
On Thursday, meanwhile, City face Slavia Prague in the UEFA Europa League knockout stages and the panel also looked ahead to that round of 32 first leg clash...
A crazy game
Matt Elliott said: "That result and performance, what a day it was (against Liverpool). A crazy sequence of events in those seven minutes, but ultimately, a lot of praise is due for how they managed to turn the game around, it was brilliant. It was a difficult task to take stock of everything, I found myself just chuckling away in the end, thinking: 'What is actually happening here?'. Everything was positive from a Leicester point of view, but the mixture of emotions, coming back into the game when it looked unlikely, in truth, because Liverpool were definitely shading it overall. And then when they take the lead, you fear the worst going down 1-0 to the reigning champions and without being at their best, they looked relatively impressive, Liverpool, up until that point. But as Leicester have done before, their determination to be able to react from adversity and going down in games, it doesn't finish them off, they have that resilience in them and they've shown it again at the weekend. There was always hope for Leicester and that's a sign of the quality."
An incredible comeback
Tony Cottee said: "Of course Liverpool get a goal up and that's it, I'm thinking they are going to go on and win the game. The last 20 minutes were incredible really, beginning with the penalty that never was and then the free-kick goes in direct from James [Maddison] and then they were checking for offside, but no one had touched the ball so it was the correct decision. But for Leicester to turn that around, it tells me everything about all the good things that we've been saying all season long. Their never-say-die spirit, the fact they can be a goal down to the champions and it doesn't worry them, it doesn't put them off their game. Once they got that goal, yes they had a little bit of luck of course with the second goal that Jamie [Vardy] scored, but it was just a fantastic way to turn a football match around. It's just such a shame that the fans haven't been there to celebrate because games like that are special."
Showing different qualities
Matt Elliott said: "Leicester struggled to get their game together properly. When they were in possession, they were looking up and there was a lack of options there because they were having to work so hard defensively. Liverpool were impressive, you can see them operating and functioning as a whole unit and they make it so difficult for teams to play out against them. Leicester were having to do well just to maintain possession, not really advance anywhere. Numerous times Leicester gave it away relatively cheaply and were back defending and it became a bit of struggle for them, but that's where they deserve a lot of credit, because they stuck at it, persevered and eventually found a way through. You need many attributes to be a good team, it's not all about skill and technique, it's resolve, togetherness, spirit and character as well as many other things and Leicester showed all of those against Liverpool."
Belief in their ability
Tony Cottee said: "I think this current crop of Leicester players, I think they genuinely believe, with good reason as well, that they are a genuine top four team. They've earned the right to be there, they were so unlucky last season, really they should have qualified for the Champions League, but I think that spurred them on even more. To go into a game against what is a great Liverpool team, we all know that and after what happened earlier in the season when Liverpool dominated the play against Leicester at Anfield and made it very difficult, they've got genuine belief that they can take on the top teams, which is great, and that's what you need."
Praise for Ndidi and Barnes
Matt Elliott said: "I thought Wilfred Ndidi was unbelievable all game, but because Leicester didn't really get things going and Liverpool were probably the stronger side for the majority of the game, that went under the radar a little bit, but he was unbelievably good. Then I always felt that Harvey Barnes was threatening to burst into the game. As soon as Barnes got the opportunity, Leicester had to go for broke and let Barnes off the leash a little bit and he was scintillating from that penalty incident onwards."
Rodgers' influence
Tony Cottee said: "You need confidence and you've got to believe in the manager. When he talks to you and he asked you to do things, you've got to believe that the manager believes you can do it. I think these players get that feeling from Brendan Rodgers. They tweaked the formation in the second half and that was a plan to make things happen for them. This is a very talented squad, very talented players and they are good enough to not only compete against the top four teams, they are good enough to beat them as well and there must be a real confidence in the Club at the moment. Yes, there has been a couple of setbacks, but you're going to get that going through the course of the season, you can't go through the season winning every game. To bounce back like Leicester have done in the last two or three games has been excellent to watch."