Harvey Elliott asking Dominik Szoboszlai a question as the defender raises concerns
Ian Doyle’s analysis after Liverpool and LASK in the Europa League Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo celebrates his team’s second goal with teammates Harvey Elliott (left) and Mohamed Salah (right) during the Europa League Group E match between Liverpool and LASK at Anfield. Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo celebrates his team’s second goal with teammates Harvey Elliott (left) and Mohamed Salah (right) during the Europa League Group E match between Liverpool and LASK at Anfield. Konate is worried while Quansah is beaming Jarell Quansah had good reason to be upset with Liverpool last time out of the Europa League. The 20-year-old thought he had scored a dramatic late equalizer – and his first top-flight goal – to earn the Reds a point in Toulouse, but he was sent off for a controversial handball on Alexis Mac Allister early in the match. play it probably happened the other day. However, it has already been a memorable breakthrough campaign for Quansah, with the visit of LASK Linz his sixth start – three coming in Europe. Quansah again showed both solid defending and real composure on the ball, betraying both his tender years and his lack of experience at this level, which was evident when he raced back after a rare LASK break to make a fine block to keep Liverpool’s goal . second half Those who managed the centre-back during his time at the Academy can be proud. However, the centre-back’s partner Ibrahima Konate was not so convincing. That the Frenchman started was a testament to how he has fallen below Joel Matip in the pecking order and, having been injured several times this season, there is still a certain rustiness to his game which the Reds will look to continue. However, Konate knows there is still plenty of room for improvement. Elliott asks Szoboszlai a question If there’s one area Wednesday’s team will be looking to exploit, it’s midfield. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have largely locked down two of the three spots, and Curtis Jones is still having success in the third, so the cup games have provided a platform for Harvey Elliott, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo. Gravenberch’s all-round style and willingness to stretch his legs forward with runs means he is always on the lookout and, as Manchester City showed at the weekend, he is warming to the role. While the Dutchman had his moments here, Elliott was more impressive, his performance showing again why he has been a regular influence this campaign, whether from the bench or, as has been the case in every Europa League game. start the season. The 20-year-old couldn’t have done much more to claim his second Premier League start of the season against Fulham on Sunday, especially with Szoboszlai’s recent form down the right of the engine room. Endo, on the other hand, will again benefit from only his fourth full 90 minutes since arriving at Liverpool, making it his sixth of the game. Mac Allister, who admitted to falling asleep in a team meeting before the City game, clearly needed a rest. Anfield still welcomes Jurgen Klopp’s pre-match call to make it a famous European night has always been one of his most ambitious cries as Liverpool manager. But while Anfield completely failed to come alive on a bitterly cold night – credit for the loudest fans went to the relentless away support – it remains hospitable to the visiting team. The Reds have now won their first 10 home games of the season in all competitions for the fourth time, previously in 1893/94 when they won their first 16, in 1972/73 when they won their first 11 and most recently with the double. in the 1985/86 season, when the first 13 were won. Sunday’s Premier League visit of Fulham will be the last to see Anfield Road’s impressive new stand closed, with supporters returning for the visit of Manchester United on December 17. And when the Europa League last 16 games are played in March, there are likely to be more than 60,000 players. Those famous European nights may be on the horizon.