Harvey Elliott remains positive following horrific injury in Leeds victory
A perfectly well-managed game by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool was overshadowed by the saddest moment of the Premier League 2021/22 campaign; Harvey Elliott dislocated his ankle following a challenge by substitute Pascal Struijk.
The Reds were totally dominant, despite a few scares when they beat Leeds United 3-0 on home soil and took all three points back to Anfield. The game was well-contested but Leeds’ chances came far and few between – they only managed to get nine shots at goal with four hitting the target.
It was the visitors who totally nullified any attacking threat the Whites produced, with the ultimate protection in front of the defence for Liverpool enjoying their best displays of the season so far – Fabinho and Thiago Alcântara were on top of their game and made a claim for either of them taking the Man of the Match award.
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A first-half goal by Mohamed Salah to take his Premier League tally to 100 set the Reds on their way. This was followed up by a set-piece goal for the Reds second scored by the abovementioned Fabinho.
The three points were then confirmed with the third and final goal scored by Sadio Mane late in stoppage time of the second half.
Harvey Elliott’s injury untimely as ever
In between all of the positive action for the Reds, who now sit in third place after their 0-3 win, we witnessed what appeared to be a season-ending injury for Harvey Elliott.
The Reds were about to break down the line through the young 18-year-old and unfortunately, a challenge by the 33rd-minute substitute, Pascal Struijk, ended Elliott’s night with the player having to be stretchered off and taken straight to the hospital – Struijk received a red card for his effort.
No injury ever comes at the right time but this was one of the most untimely there has been. The young attacker had just broken into the first team at Anfield and forced himself into Klopp’s plans.
The only positive news to come from the drama at Elland Road, the injury was not as bad as it first appeared to be; what seemed like a clean ankle break, turned into the not so severe, ankle dislocation.
Despite the setback Elliott’s in high spirits
Since the injury, there has been loads of outpour from every corner in England and from around the world, especially from his teammates, club, opposition players, and the fans.
A young fan was even lucky, “not so lucky”, enough to be in a hospital bed next to Elliott and get his boot and playing sweater. The perfect way to embrace his setback.
The player himself had his say and thanked all for the continuous support and vowed to come back stronger than ever.
Harvey Elliott had to say following his injury:
"Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out or sent messages to me and my family, it means so much to us.Also a massive thanks to everyone inside Elland Road for the reception you gave me immediately after it happened.I am now fully focused on my recovery and will give everything in my rehabilitation to be back out there as soon as I can. I know I have an incredible support network behind me at Liverpool and together we will get through this.To all of the Liverpool fans, your support means the world to me. I’m one of you and I can’t wait to be back faster, fitter and stronger to help the team in the future. You’ll Never Walk Alone! (Via: liverpoolecho.co.uk)"
Reports state in the coming days the 18-year-old starlet will undergo surgery with the timeline of him being sidelined still undetermined – but it is still less than the time off he would have spent if his leg was broken by the challenge.
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How will FPL managers manage without Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott?
Only 0.3% of FPL managers have to worry about making a change, with this the number of managers in possession of him during GW4.
He was never a Fantasy Premier League asset because not one of us knew he would be keeping players like Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and others on the bench.