Arne Slot has admitted that leaving Harvey Elliott out of his starting line-up for Liverpool's 3-1 win over Southampton may have been the wrong decision.
As a reward for scoring a last-minute winner in the 1-0 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain, Elliott found himself on the bench against the Saints. After a poor first half where the Merseysiders gifted Will Smallbone a goal on the stroke of half-time, Slot hauled off Curtis Jones and introduced Elliott.
The 21-year-old was one of two other players the Dutchman brought on, with the Premier League leaders trailing. The substitution paid off, as Liverpool turned the game around with a goal from Darwin Nunez and a brace of penalties from Mohamed Salah.
The result has widened the gap between Liverpool and Arsenal to 16 points. After the match, Slot admitted that, in hindsight, snubbing Elliott may have been an error of judgement.
When asked by the Liverpool Echo if it was difficult to leave Elliott out of the starting line-up, Slot said: "It is always a difficult decision not to start Harvey, not to start Wata (Wataru Endo), not to start all the other ones I don't play.
"But if someone comes in for five minutes, touches his first ball and scores a goal and then you change your whole idea about all the line-ups you made before, that would be a bit out of line - a bit weird as well.
"He got 45 minutes today because he did so well in Paris. But there's also a reason why I played so many times the other ones and all the time they deserved that trust.
"But today, if I could do it one more time over, I would have started it differently than I started today...but you don't know this in advance."
"What it is with him is also with other players; they are in competition with so many good players and that makes it sometimes difficult to make a line-up. But it always helps to bring in performances like this, for him but also for Wata. He came in 15 minutes before the end again and showed how important he is for this team and the others as well."
On reflection, Slot may have wished that he deployed Elliott over Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian, who played the full 90 minutes against PSG, was brought off at half-time in place of Alexis Mac Allister.
Slot admitted the clash against the Saints may have been 45 minutes too much for the ex-RB Leipzig midfielder and that he had made a mistake. Slot added: "Every time I am sitting here and talking about Dominik, I'm talking about he is a machine. He can keep on going, running and running and running.
"It was maybe the first time this season I saw a different energy from him, which is maybe normal. Maybe I made a mistake by playing him because he gives so much every single game. The good news is he only played 45 and is more rested for the upcoming week now than he is if I played him for 90."
Williamslad
0
Next up Luis Enrique and his crew
malablata
0
In EPL this season, Penalties: Arsenal 2 vs Liverpool 9. Red Card: Arsenal 5 vs Liverpool 2. What kind of title race is that if not the English FA pecking Arsenal back?
cj1
1
you idiot Sabozalai out Elliot in Gravebach out Endo in against PSG Nunez in replaced by Jota 2nd half you wil the defending solid and attacking threat of liverpool and if we are under pressure you introduce Jonez than
Out of ur mind
Zawdilmnpz
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Elliot is active and hungry please use him from now on ...i used to rely on Diaz is also done you can start Jota left.and Nunez center
Zawdilmnpz
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you idiot Sabozalai out Elliot in Gravebach out Endo in against PSG Nunez in replaced by Jota 2nd half you wil the defending solid and attacking threat of liverpool and if we are under pressure you introduce Jonez than
bucabcklo
1
Mr slot pls give Elliott more playing time
Yehdklmort
0
thert is very very good players
Nupbcdortu
1
I also prefer Elliot more than Jones, Jones sometimes holds on to the ball too much slowing an attack dribbling unnecessary instead of releasing the ball fast. Elliot is more direct. He knows the main objective of the team is to score
No way bro, Jones is very matured the boy is a Busguets in the making. He controls games and dribbles past players he is more fluent than any other midfielders we have. He is not just having too much pace in him but as I say he us our Busguets
adenijisamuel
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In doing do odd said line there answers is assistant coach do all lined them ,in any heap rump turned is continue moving reading no fumes lined them .
u b real fool....
Nicknemza1
2
I also prefer Elliot more than Jones, Jones sometimes holds on to the ball too much slowing an attack dribbling unnecessary instead of releasing the ball fast. Elliot is more direct. He knows the main objective of the team is to score
Nicknemza1
1
And you didn't care to praise NUNEZ today even after netting a goal whereas you won't hesitate to criticise him in public
Your problem is deviating from the subject. You always want to look for something negative to say. Sorry We are not talking abt Nunez for now. Thank you
Widbiltz
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All I am more co concerned now is our match against PSG tomorrow.
Nusmnrsy
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Elliott is a better player than Jones by far,,,,,gravenberch best position to me is RB..move Trent into z middle,not necessarily as a regular starter,,
Do you really know football. Right for position for Gravenberg is RB unless u don't watch soccer at all
EmeraldJ
1
And you didn't care to praise NUNEZ today even after netting a goal whereas you won't hesitate to criticise him in public
GodCool
1
Elliott is a better player than Jones by far,,,,,gravenberch best position to me is RB..move Trent into z middle,not necessarily as a regular starter,,
what a load of rubbish, Trent will not be able to make it as a DM, Trent is very sloppy when it comes to holding the ball, that's why he's a RB and spraying the balls forward. Gravenberch is lethal in transition with his turns and dribbling
cemdimruz
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Liverpool entire quad are hungry n confident for success. YNWA
zotdilnorz
2
Elliott is a better player than Jones by far,,,,,gravenberch best position to me is RB..move Trent into z middle,not necessarily as a regular starter,,
the best defensive midfielder in the EPL right now, and you said his best position is RB. you should be tied up and shot execution style. leave smart devices alone.
cimdlrtyz
1
rotate whenever possible otherwise you will bottled the league in the end
hen2020
0
In doing do odd said line there answers is assistant coach do all lined them ,in any heap rump turned is continue moving reading no fumes lined them .
kehaikmor
1
Elliott is a better player than Jones by far,,,,,gravenberch best position to me is RB..move Trent into z middle,not necessarily as a regular starter,,
dawbcknrsz
3
you must start Elliot at this level because of your team needs small 🤏rest 😴