Liverpool easily advanced to the Europa League quarterfinals, defeating Sparta Prague 6-1 at Anfield to complete an 11-2 aggregate victory. The Reds were playing at a high level.
For a brief moment, it seemed as though six Reds players had scored tonight, but Cody Gakpo deflected Harvey Elliott’s second-half goal from well beyond the penalty area into the net.
But even after replacing him at halftime, the 20-year-old still had the visitors under control for the next 45 minutes.
Liverpool’s number 19 won two duels, completed 100% of his dribbles, completed 61 of his 66 passes on the night (92% success rate), and made four crucial passes (second most for the Reds behind Mo Salah’s six).
Elliott received a 7 out of 10 from Ian Doyle of The Liverpool Echo for his “lively cameo” in his post-match player evaluations.
Elliott was called upon at halftime with Liverpool leading 9-2 on the aggregate, which was unusual given that he had played more than 500 minutes of football in the eighteen days leading up to tonight’s game.
But Jurgen Klopp’s substitution strategy this season has been as astute as ever, as the 20-year-old exhibits not the slightest sign of weariness.
The young player, who was left out of the most recent England roster, will have a two-week break after Sunday’s FA Cup match at Old Trafford.
Elliott should have had the night off at Anfield, but instead the Reds’ number 19 toyed with the Czech visitors. Sparta Prague must have been hoping for that.