BBC pundit thinks Leicester have an ’emerging talent’ Liverpool underestimated on Saturday

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Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes has been praised by BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks, who named the Foxes ace in his latest Premier League Team of the Week.

The 23-year-old has been one of Leicester’s standout players since his first-team breakthrough in 2019, clocking up 95 appearances with 20 goals and 14 assists registered.

This season, Barnes has made 31 appearances, breaking into double figures for goals in all competitions (12) and also claiming three assists.

The England international has been instrumental for the Foxes, who finished fifth in the Premier League last term and are currently flying high in second place this time round.

Barnes took a while to get into gear against Liverpool on Saturday but once he did he was superb, turning Trent Alexander-Arnold inside out and netting a deserved goal en route to a 3-1 win.

“Harvey Barnes caused Liverpool all kinds of trouble down their right-hand side,” Crooks wrote on BBC Sport.

“The visitors clearly didn’t think this emerging talent was worth paying any more attention to than normal. Well they certainly paid the price for that.

“For most of the afternoon Trent Alexander-Arnold couldn’t cope with the lively Barnes.

“The winger was responsible for the free-kick that created the goal opportunity for Maddison, produced a superb save from the troubled Alisson (before the goalkeeper’s collision with his own defender) and then put the game beyond the champions with a brilliantly taken goal.”

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Barnes is a player of the highest calibre who has been sensational for Leicester in recent years.

His 12 goals in all competitions for Leicester this season make him the top-scoring English midfielder currently playing for a Premier League side.

And with his contract running to 2024, Leicester’s hand is strong regarding the future of their player, who hopefully can keep them in the upper echelons of English football and challenge for silverware.