Reaction'Clinical' - Harvey Elliott on Liverpool's five-goal showing at Sparta Prague
Harvey Elliott hailed a ‘clinical’ display from Liverpool – and from Darwin Nunez in particular – as the Reds beat Sparta Prague 5-1 to seize control of their Europa League last-16 tie.
Nunez netted twice in the Czech capital, with Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai also on target for Jürgen Klopp’s side, who were able to welcome back Mohamed Salah after injury too.
And speaking to Liverpoolfc.com post-match, Elliott was delighted with the level of finishing on display from the visitors in Thursday’s first leg.
“It was probably the best possible thing that could happen, especially with the second leg coming up,” the midfielder, who ended the game with three assists, said.
“I thought we were very clinical in front of goal and it has put us in a good position with the second leg, but we are not focusing on that now as we have another tough game this weekend [against Manchester City] so we can think about it after.”
Elliott continued: “I don’t think we were at our best today but we made our chances count, which is all we can ask for. Confidence-wise especially for the lads it was great for the upcoming games and we just have to keep it going.”
Liverpool got off to the perfect start, with Mac Allister winning and converting a penalty inside six minutes, and they were 3-0 up by half-time as Nunez dispatched two excellent finishes.
“He is a very clinical striker,” Elliott said. “And if you put him in half-positions and half-chances he is more than likely going to take them. Today was another example of that.
“I’m over the moon for him and it’s great for him since he’s come back from injury.”
Elliott also reflected on the significance of having both Salah and Szoboszlai, who each emerged off the bench in the second half, back in action after recent injuries.
“There are some big names coming back now and the group is getting stronger and stronger again, which is good,” he said.
“It’s a good squad and we are in a good position to test each other and to work as hard as we can for one another, especially with the lads coming back now, which give us that extra option, which is nice. So we are very happy.”
Liverpool’s attention now turns to Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City at Anfield, a game every Reds player will be desperate to be involved in, and desperate to make a mark in.
“It’s a tough game, there’s no doubt about that, against a team with world-class players,” said Elliott. “It’s going to be a very tough game but they are coming to our house and we are going to have everyone with us, that’s for sure.”
He continued: “It’s going to take a lot [to win]. As I said, it’s an unbelievable team.
“But we are Liverpool and they are coming to our home, which is not an easy place to come. Our fans are going to be behind us all the way, which we know, and we know we are going to have to put in a strong performance and work as hard as we possibly can.
“Now we need to recover and then we can start to focus on that, but it’s going to be a tough game.”