7/10 star may very well be Liverpool’s new secret weapon within the title race

Liverpool fired their approach as much as second within the Premier League desk on Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 win over Marco Silva’s Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Reds made arduous work of the match as they have been held at 1-1 going into the break, after Timothy Castagne’s strike cancelled out an opener from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Nevertheless, second-half strikes from Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota ensured that each one three factors returned to Merseyside, and Jurgen Klopp‘s males at the moment are degree on factors with Arsenal, who’ve a greater objective distinction, on the high of the division.

With 5 matches left to play for the Reds earlier than the top of the season, the German head coach nonetheless has an opportunity to finish his tenure at Anfield with a second Premier League trophy.

Nevertheless, with Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis offering fierce competitors, it’s going to take a monumental effort to recover from the road over the approaching weeks.

Klopp could, although, have unearthed a brand new secret weapon within the race for the title by handing Harvey Elliott, who will not be an everyday starter, a chance to impress in opposition to Fulham.

Harvey Elliott’s efficiency in opposition to Fulham in numbers

The England U21 worldwide was handed simply his seventh begin of the Premier League marketing campaign and caught the attention with a formidable show in the course of the park.

Handed a match score of seven/10 by the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle for his ‘creativity’ and ‘power’, Elliott grasped his likelihood by buzzing across the pitch out and in of possession to make an influence for the Reds.

His most telling contribution was, in fact, the help for the second objective of the sport for the Reds. He athletically intercepted a stray cross from Fulham and appeared ahead to search out Gravenberch between the strains, which allowed the previous Bayern Munich man to show and hearth the ball into the again of the online.

It was a vital second for Liverpool within the match because it got here at a time when each side have been urgent to place themselves forward, with the rating at 1-1, and Elliott’s defensive and offensive work mixed into one to create the prospect for his teammate.

In 90 minutes on the pitch, the previous Fulham prodigy accomplished 100% (1/1) of his tried dribbles and 83% (50/60) of his tried passes, which speaks to his effectiveness and effectivity on the ball.

The left-footed maestro, who solely misplaced possession 11 instances in whole, additionally showcased a bodily facet to his recreation with 4 of eight duels gained, and this exhibits that – regardless of standing at simply 5 foot 7 – he was not a legal responsibility for Klopp’s males off the ball, even up in opposition to the bodily imposing Sasa Lukic and Joao Palhinha.

It was a terrific well-rounded efficiency from Elliott in midfield and he may now be a brand new secret weapon for Liverpool, given his lack of begins up so far and his potential to supply much more.

Harvey Elliott’s untapped potential

The 21-year-old magician has solely began seven of his 29 appearances within the Premier League to date this season, which exhibits that he has been introduced on in its place as a rule.

You solely have to have a look at his performances within the Europa League and in an England shirt at U21 degree to see the form of influence he can have when beginning matches regularly.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, Elliott has recorded an help each different begin on common in Europe this time period. This speaks to his excellent creativity, which has additionally been on show for his nation this time period.

In his final six appearances for England’s U21s this season, the spectacular maestro has amassed seven objectives, three assists, 26 key passes, and 6 ‘massive possibilities’ created.

Whereas, the gifted magician has solely chipped in with two objectives and three assists, the third of which got here in opposition to Fulham, in 29 Premier League video games.

These statistics, and his incredible show from the beginning in opposition to the Cottagers, recommend that Elliott may provide much more to Liverpool within the top-flight than he has to date this season if Klopp makes him an everyday starter between now and the top of the season.

That is why the younger star may very well be a shock new weapon within the title race for the Reds, as his chic inventive high quality and knack for chipping in with a objective for England may find yourself being a difference-maker through the run-in if the supervisor locations his belief within the teenager.

He may are available to offer extra on the high finish of the pitch than Dominik Szoboszlai, who has been an everyday starter, has of late for Liverpool.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s attacking contributions

The Hungary worldwide, signed from German facet RB Leipzig on a everlasting deal final summer time, has began 24 of his 28 Premier League appearances for the membership to date this season.

He has racked up three objectives, two assists, and 6 ‘massive possibilities’ created in these 28 video games, which exhibits that the attacking midfielder has hardly ever made a distinction within the closing third.

Elliott has contributed with extra assists in eight Europa League begins (4) and 7 Premier League begins (three) than Szoboszlai has (two) in 24 top-flight begins.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, Szoboszlai’s attacking and defensive work has not been vastly superior to the teenager’s while you examine the minutes they’ve performed.

In virtually half as many minutes performed, Elliott has supplied extra assists and gained a better proportion of his defensive duels within the Premier League, which means that the younger gem may do way more with the enjoying time that the ex-Bundesliga star has had.

Subsequently, the English whiz ought to be supplied with extra alternatives to begin, following his efficiency in opposition to Fulham, over the Hungarian gem during the last 5 video games within the race to win the league title for the Reds.