Although Darwin Nunez rightly took the headlines for his match-winning brace, Arne Slot was eager to spotlight Harvey Elliott‘s affect within the win at Brentford.
Nunez got here off the bench to attain twice as Liverpool earned a late 2-0 victory in west London, however Elliott additionally produced a vivid cameo of his personal.
The 21-year-old has been starved of alternatives within the Premier League this season however performed a key half in each targets at Brentford, helping the second.
And requested about Elliott’s position within the win, Slot took the chance to reward the younger midfielder and the flexibility to alter the sport together with his bench.
“In all the opposite interviews there was plenty of concentrate on Darwin, as a result of he scored two targets, and each time I stated ‘yeah, however don’t overlook Harvey’,” Slot instructed reporters.
Brentford 0-2 Liverpool
“He had a big effect on each targets as properly.
“It’s so good for me, for us as a staff, that I’ve gamers that may affect the sport on the bench as properly.
“This occurred at Forest with Jota and Kostas and in the present day with Harvey and with Darwin.
“I additionally favored Robbo and Curtis once they got here in, and Federico was just for 5 minutes but it surely’s good to have so many alternatives on the bench as properly.
“That’s why they’ve to remain out there, they’ve to remain match, as a result of one of many strengths of the staff can also be gamers who can affect the sport from the bench.”
There was, after all, a purpose Nunez’s identify dominated the post-match protection, notably given the story round his irritating marketing campaign up to now.
Even earlier than the sport, although, Slot insisted he had no points with the performances of his No. 9 and, vindicated, he backed that up in his press convention.
“Certainly one of you requested me related issues earlier than the sport about Darwin and I didn’t agree then that he’s not having an excellent season,” the pinnacle coach defined.
“I believe he’s having an excellent season. He scores targets, he works very onerous for the staff, he assists.
“However he’s in competitors with plenty of good gamers, in order that’s why he’s not on the pitch each single recreation.
“I’m very pleased with him, not solely as a result of he scored two targets in the present day – that after all helps – however I’m very pleased with the opposite performances he put in for us as properly.”
