Liverpool's Harvey Elliott scores the opening goal past PSG's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma
Elliott scored his third goal in Europe this season
Harvey Elliott revealed he has had to stifle his anger at not getting more playing time for the good of the team this season.
The Reds midfielder was the super-sub on Wednesday night as he joined Alisson as the hero with an 87th-minute winner against PSG.
Elliott, 21, was euphoric after snatching the game and helping the Reds return to Anfield next week for the second leg with a slender advantage. The boyhood Liverpool supporter saluted the travelling fans when he reemerged for post-match interviews at Parc des Princes.
But despite his goal-scoring heroics, Elliott can’t get away from his frustrations this season. The midfielder hoped this season under a new manager in Arne Slot would be his chance to get more time on the pitch.
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But he played just seven minutes in the first three Premier League games and suffered a broken foot in training. Since then he has managed just 69 minutes of action in the league and no starts. He has played 507 minutes in all competitions but compared to Mo Salah’s 3,396, it is not a lot.
“I'm still young, it's a hard thing to understand in my head really,” said Elliott, who signed from Fulham in 2019. “So there are moments within the season where I am getting angry, I am getting frustrated because I want to play, but at the same time I need to respect the situation, I need to respect the manager's decisions.
“Some games I'm needed, some games I'm not. That's just how football is. That's why I feel like we're in the position that we are in this season so far because of his decisions.
“Tonight was another one of them where it worked in our favour. Luckily I was the chosen one, you could say, to come in and get the match winner.”
Elliott has held talks with Slot about his playing time and what he needs to do to get on the pitch more. He started both FA Cup games, one in the League Cup and one in Europe so far. “We've had conversations,” he said. “Very honest conversations and open conversations.
Elliott celebrates with Alisson after the keeper's heroics
“It's down to me to put the work in, to be honest, and show him everything that he's told me. I'm trying to work on it, I'm trying to improve and I'm trying to get in this team. At the same time, I feel like I can't get too angry and frustrated because quite frankly the team is doing amazing.
“As I said, it's a team game. It's just not about me. I just need to make sure that I'm ready in moments like tonight where I can contribute.”
But he admits it hasn’t always been easy. “I think it's just about staying motivated and mentally right in the head,” he said.
“But moments like tonight, it keeps me motivated and the hunger is still within me to go out and show what I can do.”
Elliott scored within 47 seconds of coming on against PSG so you can’t ask for a more instant impact. It was his third goal in Europe this term. It could be his most important.
And he insists the Reds’ substitutes have to be ready to ensure they can help the side as they aim for glory in the Premier League, European Cup and Carabao Cup. “We're all going to play our part, it's just about staying ready,” he added.
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