Liverpool have ALREADY signed their Szoboszlai replacement

It’s been a big week for Harvey Elliott - certainly his most productive spell of the season thus far.

Although he only got 10 minutes off the bench against Brentford on Saturday, he made a profound impact. One assist and one so-called “pre-assist” in his short time on the pitch demonstrated that he can bring something a little different to a Liverpool side who have been facing more teams sitting deep in recent months.

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Arne Slot’s side are often looking for that one breakthrough, that one key pass to get behind opponents, and Elliott can provide that threat.

Elliott, 21, has had to kick his heels all too often this term as Slot rotated his midfield options - generally - between a very limited cast. With Ryan Gravenberch stationed at No6, it was left to Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones to duke it out for the other two places. And in general, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai could be reasonably be assured of a selection.

Elliott was out of sight, out of mind for three months - due to an injury sustained on England under-21 duty - and when he came back he was left on the outside looking in. In fact things got so bad that it looked at one stage Liverpool might consider a January sale.

However, Elliott has come roaring back; his goal against Lille on Tuesday night certainly gives him a platform to build from and should offer some optimism that a first-team place is not a remote possibility.

"I need to stay patient and when I am getting opportunities, however long it is, just enjoy the moment, especially after being injured for three months at the start of the season,” he told TNT Sports after the game.

"I just want to enjoy my football and when a chance comes I need to show the gaffer that if I am needed I am ready."

Szoboszlai needs to watch out

He’s built up his minutes and his level of responsibility in recent weeks - an EFL Cup goal in a 90-minute appearance against Southampton in December, 90 minutes two weeks ago against Accrington.

He’s not yet started a Premier League game this season but surely that can’t be far off. His 45 minutes against the French side on Tuesday will only help increase his confidence and make him feel like he belongs.

But if Elliott comes in, who should go out?

The most immediate concerns appear to lie with Dominik Szoboszlai. Although he got his season off to a productive start - two Premier League assists in his first three outings and a goal and assist in his first two Champions League games - since then the numbers haven’t been as good.

Aside from a goal and assist against Tottenham in December, the Hungarian hasn’t really put much strain on the statisticians. Slot’s warnings that Szoboszlai needed to get his numbers up must be ringing in his ears, only now Liverpool have got a creative replacement breathing down his neck.

It’s happened once before; Liverpool tailed off badly towards the end of last season when the air was let out of Jurgen Klopp’s final campaign. One of the players most deeply hit by a loss of form towards the end of the season was Szoboszlai. Indeed, Elliott was summoned from the replacements to come into the starting lineup and enjoyed a fruitful spell during the final games of the term.

Indeed, Elliott was somewhat of a favourite of Klopp, who remarked during the run-in: "In January, a lot of injuries, he played really good, probably our best player, right wing, midfield, but everybody came back, minutes here, minutes there and he didn’t start anymore."

Heading into the summer, it looked like Elliott could be one of Slot’s most influential creative attackers. He enjoyed a decent pre-season tour in the USA but found minutes hard to come by before his injury.

Still he’s already demonstrated he’s got the poise and patience to pounce on an opportunity when it comes. And with Liverpool increasingly looking for that secret code to unlock opposition defences, the time could be right.

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