Leicester & Leeds In Lively Elland Road Stalemate
There were five new faces in the City XI after Thursday's 1-1 draw with Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Europa League, as Ricardo Pereira, Wilfred Ndidi, Harvey Barnes, Ademola Lookman and Jamie Vardy all came into the side in west Yorkshire.
Before kick-off, both sides and each set of supporters observed a period of silence upon the sounding of The Last Post at Elland Road to commemorate the sacrifices of servicemen and women in conflicts past and present.
Foxes captain Kasper Schmeichel, a former Leeds player, was called upon frequently early on, first denying Rodrigo's low drive, before palming a deflected curler from Jack Harrison over the crossbar. The Dane was there again to stop Kalvin Phillips' point-blank header from Raphinha's cross.
Barnes, on the other hand, saw an early strike saved by home goalkeeper Illan Meslier. Later on, Pascal Struijk was alert to stop Youri Tielemans' through ball, intended for Lookman, before Raphinha's free-kick missed everyone in the area and whistled past the unsighted Schmeichel in the away net.
Leicester, though, were back on level terms immediately. From a quick restart, Jonny Evans' forward ball was nudged on by Boubakary Soumaré. Barnes cut inside Diego Llorente and unleashed a magnificent curled strike into the top corner. The home crowd fell silent, as the away end toasted a special goal.
Marcelo Bielsa's side had much of the ball during the opening 45 minutes, looking to pin their visitors into their own half, but when the Foxes broke free, there was space to exploit. That was apparent just before the break as Lookman threaded a pass through to Tielemans, who blazed over the bar.
Leicester were unchanged at the interval and could have gone ahead early on when Tielemans' corner was palmed out by Meslier, straight back into the path of the Belgium international. City's No.8 drilled it first time at goal, before watching the ball fizz through the area and wide of the far post.
At the other end, Leeds also had an opportunity to take the lead as Phillips nodded a corner into Harrison's path. The former Manchester City winger, however, inexplicably hit the ball over the crossbar from two yards out. Schmeichel then saved comfortably from Rodrigo, 20 yards out.
Daniel James then curled wide for Leeds and Rodrigo couldn't get his volley, from a Stuart Dallas cross, on target. City, though, were slowly weathering the storm and began to advance further up the pitch. Shortly after the hour mark, they thought they'd snatched a 2-1 lead from a well-crafted corner routine.
Tielemans' cross was glanced on by Vardy and Lookman applied the finish. A VAR check, though, ruled it out. Shortly afterwards, Daniel Amartey was on for the Foxes, replacing Barnes. Another chance fell Leicester's way as Vardy robbed Cooper of the ball on the very edge of the home side's area.
In charged Tielemans - later forced off with a knock - to try and seize on the loose ball, but Meslier was equally as aware and smothered it. James then missed the target again for Leeds, after good work from Rodrigo and Raphinha, before Çağlar Söyüncü knocked substitute Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's cross wide.
There was still time for Ndidi to fire wide for Leicester, while the home faithful wanted a penalty when the ball struck Amartey's hand in the area. Nothing was given, apart from a corner, which, after an initial block from Dewsbury-Hall, led to Raphinha blazing over. One point each for the two sides.
Major moment
When Youri Tielemans' 68th-minute corner left the Belgian's boot, it looked destined to wreak havoc in the Leeds penalty area. Jamie Vardy smartly got in front of Kalvin Phillips to nod it on its way, onto the left foot of Ademola Lookman, who duly dispatched it into the back of the net.
A quick check of the replay would have led many to an assumption that the goal would stand, but the more forensic assessment provided by VAR highlighted that the tip of Lookman's boot was offside. It ultimately denied the Foxes all three points in Yorkshire.
Who impressed?
Former Leicester centre-back Gerry Taggart, speaking on LCFC Radio's Matchday Live show, said: "It was a pleasure to be here to watch such an exciting game. A few names come to mind today and Harvey Barnes deserves a mention for his goal. I'm looking forward to watching that back on TV. In a game like today, when you're looking for leaders, on numerous occasions, one man stood up today. That man is Wilfred Ndidi."
Where do we stand?
City sit 12th in the Premier League on 15 points with a goal difference of -2.
Coming up...
After the final international break of 2021, the Foxes welcome Chelsea to King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday 20 November (12:30pm kick-off). Legia Warsaw are then the visitors to the East Midlands on Thursday 25 November (8pm kick-off).
All times GMT.