It wasn’t the best night for Liverpool on Monday as they threw away a two-goal cushion late on against Aston Villa.
Despite taking a 3-1 lead into the final five minutes of the game, Liverpool transpired to let Villa back into it. 3-3 it finished.
Although there was understandable frustration at the end of the match though, it was not all bad. Jarell Quansah got his first Premier League goal, for example, and was likened to Cristiano Ronaldo in doing so.
Cody Gakpo also continued his recent rejuvenation, getting himself another goal to make it 16 for the season.
Along with Quansah and Gakpo however, there was another Liverpool player making waves at Villa Park. And statistics now show that he is mixing it with some of the Premier League’s most talked about players.
Harvey Elliott the assist prince
It has unquestionably been a superb season for both Declan Rice of Arsenal and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
Rice could yet win the title with Arsenal, amid claims that Liverpool should have signed him last year, while Palmer has a remarkable 21 goals and 10 assists for Chelsea.
Naturally, both have been included in the Premier League’s player and young player of the season categories.
However, as per stats released by Squawka after Liverpool’s game on Monday, Harvey Elliott is now outshining them both when it comes to assists.
The 21-year-old has set up nine goals for his teammates in 2024. Kevin De Bruyne is way out ahead on 15, but Elliott is sitting in second-place, level with De Bruyne’s Man City teammate Rodri.
Both Rice and Palmer are in the conversation, but neither can match Liverpool’s No.19. The Chelsea man has eight, while Rice is one further back on seven. Time to put some respect on Harvey’s name.
Harvey Elliott should get England call-up
In posting these statistics, Squawka question whether Elliott should be called into the England squad for this summer’s European Championship.
From our point of view, there’s absolutely no reason for him not to. When the likes of Man United’s Kobbie Mainoo are getting in ahead of him, Elliott has every right to be disappointed.
Palmer and Rice are two more who are likely to be in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the tournament. The Arsenal midfielder is a nailed-on starter, while Palmer’s excellent season is likely to be rewarded with a seat on the plane.
As for Elliott, he is possibly going under the radar a little. He does get plenty of praise in the press – Jermain Defoe recently hailed the youngster as a ‘technically gifted’ performer – but he still feels underrated.
With the Euros squad size now expanded to 26, the numbers back up the fact that Elliott should be overlooked no more. He’s doing everything he can to catch Southgate’s eye. In the squad or not though, Harvey’s progress is great news for Liverpool.