Surprising stat puts Liverpool youngster in the same company as Kevin De Bruyne

During Liverpool's 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday, one new statistic emerged, placing one of the Reds' rising stars in elite company.

As pointed out by Michael Reid on X (formerly known as Twitter), midfielder Harvey Elliott's assist for Ryan Gravenberch to score the side's second was his seventh in all competitions since the start of February.

This, he points out, puts the 21-year-old in the same company as one of football's most renowned playmakers, Manchester City maestro Kevin De Bruyne.

Out of all Premier League players, only the Belgian has laid on more assists in all competitions during this period, leading the charts with nine assists.

Maturing performances

Elliott's inclusion in such illustrious company may come as a surprise to many, considering his age and relative inexperience compared to seasoned professionals like De Bruyne. But at just 21 years old, the Liverpool midfielder has been making waves with his mature performances.

The former Fulham man has demonstrated remarkable composure on the field, combining technical ability with an astute understanding of the game. His vision, passing range and ability to pick out key passes have been pivotal in Liverpool's attack in recent months - albeit not often from the start.

In fact, his inclusion at Craven Cottage from the start was just his seventh in the Premier League all season.

That said, as his goal involvements testify, Elliott has made a telling impact off the bench many times this season. For example, the Englishman netted the stoppage-time winner away to Crystal Palace in December and also scored as a substitute in the 6-1 drubbing of Sparta Prague.

Time on his side

Speaking at the start of February, coach Jurgen Klopp alluded to Elliott's importance to his side: "Harvey has been incredibly important, and I'm sure he knows that."

However, the German also acknowledged: "He probably wishes to have started every game, but when he has come on he is brilliant, when he has started it's not the same."

"But he's young—it's not like he'll be a super-sub for the rest of his career. Learn the game, use your skillset. There is a lot he is doing well, and there is more he can do. He is a joy to work with."