- Harvey Elliott came off the bench for Liverpool and registered two assists in the second half
- Jurgen Klopp called the new area at Anfield Road ‘outrageously amazing’
- CHRIS SUTTON on sledging, expletives and verbal jousting on the field – It’s all Kicking Off podcast
For all the talk about Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland making Manchester City untouchable, Liverpool are optimistic about the strength of their own team.
Missing key players including Mohamed Salah and Alisson, Jurgen Klopp’s side got the job done in front of Anfield’s record crowd even as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury left them without a recognized right-back in the second half.
Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have all scored critical goals off the bench this season and on Saturday it was another substitute, Harvey Elliott, who made the difference with two match-winning assists after his half-time debut.
Elliott played 25 Premier League games for Liverpool and was a substitute in 35 games. It’s not the ratio an ambitious 20-year-old would want, but captain Virgil van Dijk stressed the need for the entire squad to contribute if Liverpool are to give Klopp a chance. farewell Premier League title.
“I’m sure Harvey would love to play every week, but at the highest level you have to be patient and take your moments when you get them,” Van Dijk said.
Harvey Elliott has put in plenty of good performances for Liverpool so far this season
Virgil van Dijk has called on his teammate to be patient and take advantage of every opportunity presented to him
Jurgen Klopp said the Liverpool faithful were ‘very loud at the right times’ as his side beat Burnley
Your browser does not support iframes.
Your browser does not support iframes.
‘He has to keep going. Don’t be frustrated if you sometimes don’t get started, it’s part of the business. When you get your chances, you have to perform and that is what Harvey has done in this case.
“Subs have made a big impact for us in games this season and this was another clear example. That must certainly also be the case in the future.’
Although Burnley looked like an easy player on paper, Klopp knew the potential pitfalls and was even more animated than usual on the touchline.
The late withdrawal of Alisson and Joe Gomez due to flu added to the patched feeling of Liverpool’s line-up with Salah, Joel Matip and Dominik Szoboszlai injured, Ibrahima Konate suspended and Conor Bradley unavailable after the death of his father.
Nerves were jingling as Dara O’Shea’s header canceled out Diogo Jota’s opener and Alexander-Arnold did not appear after the break due to knee discomfort, forcing Klopp to send on Elliott (right) and Curtis Jones to right-back to exchange. the first time in his career.
Elliott did enough in 45 minutes to be man of the match. He brought energy to the right flank and provided crosses for Diaz and Nunez to score and maintain Liverpool’s lead at the top. It was great theater for 59,896 spectators, eclipsing the previous highest attendance set in 1949 when the top floor of the Anfield Road Stand opened.
“Scandalously great,” is how Klopp described it. “It was really loud at the right times.”
Reds boss Klopp called Liverpool’s new Anfield Road stand ‘outrageously amazing’
With City yet to travel to Anfield this season, that atmosphere could be a twelfth man. Burnley boss Vincent Kompany acknowledged: ‘It’s a crowd with a lot of history and passion for the team. That’s always difficult.’
Emotions ran high as both managers were shown yellow cards for their protests: Klopp when Jota was denied a penalty, Kompany for claiming a foul on Aaron Ramsey in the build-up to Liverpool’s second goal.
With Andy Robertson starting his first game since October, Kostas Tsimikas also withdrawing from the bench and Salah and Bradley returning to training next week, Liverpool will go from strength to strength, especially if Alexander-Arnold’s problem is as minor as hoped.
City have been complimented on the strength of their bench, with De Bruyne and Jack Grealish at the weekend, but there is no inferiority complex at Anfield. “I am very impressed with our players who have come in,” said Van Dijk. ‘It’s important that boys seize their moments and they do that.’
Despite their entrepreneurial spirit, things are not getting any easier for Burnley in the bottom tier. The next player ahead of them is Arsenal.
