Adrian Clarke analyses key tactical points and players who can be influential in Matchweek 37.
Player analysis: Harvey Elliott (Liverpool)
Elliott is enjoying a strong end to the 2023/24 campaign having started three of Liverpool's last four matches.
The 21-year-old was outstanding last weekend, scoring a wonderful goal and assisting Cody Gakpo in a sensational performance against Tottenham Hotspur.
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The versatile playmaker is proving to be a useful option for Jurgen Klopp – just as he will be for the German’s successor next season - given how comfortable he is on the right of a midfield three, or as a wide forward.
"If I regret one thing a little bit it’s that Harvey didn’t play often enough maybe", Klopp said in his penultimate press conference as Liverpool manager.
"It was in a very important and intense period. January, [with] a lot of injuries, he played really good, he was probably our best player, right wing, right midfield, all these kinds of things.
“Everybody came back and he had minutes here and there and then he didn’t start anymore. [He] came on [and had] a big impact but it’s really nice that he could show.”
He is brimming with confidence and Elliott has the potential to be a thorn in Aston Villa’s side on Monday night.
A lovely left foot
Elliott has several excellent qualities, but the standout strength is his left foot.
His outstanding curler against Spurs (below) was his second strike from outside the box this season, following on from a winning goal at Crystal Palace.
Absolutely stunning from Harvey Elliott 💎💫 pic.twitter.com/Ngg9H2C9q0
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 5, 2024
If Unai Emery’s Villa do not close him down within shooting range, the Liverpool midfielder has the ability to score from distance.
Brilliant inswinging crosses
Three of Elliott’s four Premier League assists in 2023/24 have been remarkably similar.
He shifted the ball onto his left foot from positions down the right to deliver perfect inswinging crosses for Gakpo and Luis Diaz to head home against Spurs and Luton Town.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold often inverting from right-back and Mohamed Salah always looking to get inside the box, it is Elliott who regularly offers width down the right wing.
Elliott often breaks free from a central-midfield position and he is a little more natural at delivering crosses than his main competitor for his spot, Dominik Szoboszlai, who might be disappointed with his tally of just two assists from 25 starts.
Strong numbers
Elliott’s attacking data suggests he is more than worthy of a place in Klopp’s starting XI.
He is second only to Salah for chance creation and offers more threat from outside the box with his shots than any of his team-mates.
Across the board he has delivered better numbers per 90 minutes than Szoboszlai this season, who has started 16 more matches than Elliott (nine).
Elliott's attacking stats 23/24
| Per 90 minutes | Liverpool rank | |
| Shots from outside box | 2.29 | 1st |
| Chances created from open play | 2.06 | 2nd |
| Succ. open play crosses | 0.99 | 2nd |
| Open play crosses | 3.05 | 3rd |
| Shots | 3.51 | 4th |
| Passes played into box | 6.63 | 4th |
He is good cover for Salah in the forward line, but Elliott’s best position is a little deeper, on the right of a midfield three.
Outstanding against Spurs
Klopp must have been thrilled to see Elliott shine so brightly in their 4-2 victory at home to Spurs.
He drove forward at every opportunity and made five chances, including an assist for Gakpo.
Harvey ➡️ Cody 🎯 pic.twitter.com/r5vXvbNr4P
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 5, 2024
His goal also came from one of four attempts, all of which were on target.
His link-up play with Salah also caught the eye.
The pair exchanged 15 passes, with many of those from inside the danger zone.
Fitting the style
Liverpool’s high-octane style of play really suits Elliott.
He makes 23.2 sprints per 90 minutes, ranking him 12th in the division, and out of possession he does not stop trying to hunt down the ball.
Last time out he made an incredible 345 intensive runs, a total that included 37 pressures.
That is way above his team-leading average of 31.1 pressures per match.
Most pressures from Liverpool players 23/24
| Player | Mins played (1,000+) | Pressures | Pressures/90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey Elliott | 1,181 | 408 | 31.1 |
| Cody Gakpo | 1,488 | 498 | 30.1 |
| Diogo Jota | 1,150 | 366 | 28.6 |
| Dominik Szoboszlai | 2,085 | 618 | 26.7 |
| Curtis Jones | 1,145 | 315 | 24.8 |
On and off the ball he offers Liverpool plenty and given how well he is playing at the moment, it is perhaps a surprise that Elliott has only featured for just over 1,100 minutes of the season.
He will be eager to make an impression before the season ends and I expect him to be a key man for the Reds at Villa Park.