Although Darwin Nunez rightly took the headlines for his match-winning brace, Arne Slot was eager to focus on Harvey Elliott‘s affect within the win at Brentford.
Nunez got here off the bench to attain twice as Liverpool earned a late 2-0 victory in west London, however Elliott additionally produced a brilliant cameo of his personal.
The 21-year-old has been starved of alternatives within the Premier League this season however performed a key half in each targets at Brentford, helping the second.
And requested about Elliott’s function within the win, Slot took the chance to reward the younger midfielder and the flexibility to vary the sport along with his bench.
“In all the opposite interviews there was loads of deal with Darwin, as a result of he scored two targets, and each time I stated ‘yeah, however don’t neglect Harvey’,” Slot advised reporters.
Brentford 0-2 Liverpool
“He had a huge impact on each targets as effectively.
“It’s so good for me, for us as a staff, that I’ve gamers that may affect the sport on the bench as effectively.
“This occurred at Forest with Jota and Kostas and as we speak with Harvey and with Darwin.
“I additionally appreciated Robbo and Curtis once they got here in, and Federico was just for 5 minutes but it surely’s good to have so many alternatives on the bench as effectively.
“That’s why they’ve to remain obtainable, they’ve to remain match, as a result of one of many strengths of the staff can be gamers who can affect the sport from the bench.”
There was, in fact, a cause Nunez’s identify dominated the post-match protection, significantly given the story round his irritating marketing campaign to date.
Even earlier than the sport, although, Slot insisted he had no points with the performances of his No. 9 and, vindicated, he backed that up in his press convention.
“One in all you requested me comparable issues earlier than the sport about Darwin and I didn’t agree then that he’s not having a superb season,” the top coach defined.
“I feel he’s having a superb season. He scores targets, he works very onerous for the staff, he assists.
“However he’s in competitors with loads of good gamers, in order that’s why he’s not on the pitch each single sport.
“I’m very proud of him, not solely as a result of he scored two targets as we speak – that in fact helps – however I’m very proud of the opposite performances he put in for us as effectively.”
