Manchester United vs Liverpool: What were Harvey Elliott’s instructions when he came from the bench?

Manchester United and Liverpool lit up the Premier League last weekend by producing a game to remember. It was undoubtedly the match of the Premier League weekend with both teams having a lot to play for heading into the fixture. Liverpool are involved in a three-horse title race with Manchester City and Arsenal. With the other two sides going strong in the league, the Reds knew that they had to win the match to keep up with them.

On the other hand, Manchester United needed the win to get their fading Champions League hopes back alive. On the back of conceding late goals in successive fixtures to throw away their leads, United and their supporters were expecting a response in this fixture. Hence, when Liverpool arrived at Old Trafford, everyone’s eyes were set on the intriguing Premier League clash. It started with the visitors dominating the first half but only had one goal from Luis Diaz to show for it.

At the start of the second half, United took advantage of a defensive mistake. Bruno Fernandes scored a screamer from just inside Liverpool’s half to equalise before teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo netted a fabulous curling strike to put the hosts in front. In came Harvey Elliott as a substitute and he had a major impact. Elliott was fouled inside the box by Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mohamed Salah calmly slotted home the penalty six minutes from time to make it 2-2.

What were Harvey Elliott’s instructions?

After the match, Elliott revealed the instructions he had received when he came on as a substitute. “To have that good balance between Joe Gomez and I. I think it was just being on different lines, either one of us inside and one of us out wide – I’m not going to tell everything in case people listen to it! But it was just about to be free, find the ball and trying to create. I had joy out wide and I just thought, ‘Why don’t I stay there and let Joe run in behind?’ I felt we had that good balance but, as I said, that’s what I’m in the team to do – to try to create opportunities for my teammates, and we did it OK today,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.

Even though the youngster wanted the three points from the fixture, he is glad that a point is better than nothing. “It should have been all three. But I think at the same time we need to look at the game, and we were trailing. I think the boys showed unbelievable fight and courage to come back, to stay level-headed, stay in the game and get the equaliser. A point is better than nothing. We wanted the three points – there’s no doubt about that – but a point is better than losing,” he explained.

Speaking about his own contribution after coming on as a substitute, Elliott, said, “It was OK. I’m in the team to do that exactly and for me, if we don’t win it means nothing. I just need to keep going, keep trying to take these opportunities and work for the team, do my bit for the team and for the badge. I just want to keep going and keep fighting until the end of the season. As I said, if it’s not three points then for me personally it means nothing.”

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