Elliott close to starting spot, West Ham nail it again - UEL, UECL hits & misses
It feels as if there is one place up for grabs in Liverpool's three-player midfield. New signings Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have their spots secured - so why can't Harvey Elliott take the other?
Watching him against LASK, you wonder why the midfielder has not started more in the Premier League under Jurgen Klopp, with Elliot used just once from the off since August.
No player created more chances than Elliott against the Austrian side on Thursday night, while he ended the game with the most completed final third passes.
The 20-year-old made Liverpool's right flank impossible to play against, adding more threat to Mohamed Salah's game while even making makeshift right-back Joe Gomez - who equalled Elliott for chances created against LASK - look dangerous.
Yes, this was only LASK - who gave Elliott the time and space to hurt their defence by playing so aggressively against Klopp's side. But the Liverpool midfielder has shown more glimpses of quality than just this Europa League game.
There have been the classy, late assists away at Luton and Wolves - while he has five goals and two assists in five England U21 qualifying games. Elliott is certainly knocking on the door.
Sam Blitz
West Ham were far from their best in Serbia yet found a way to win again. It's a knack they have mastered in Europe.
Tomas Soucek's late winner meant they have scored in 20 successive European games, winning 18 and losing just once. Only Real Madrid can match West Ham's record in Europe since the start of the 2021-22 season.
They had just one shot on target - seven in total - until Soucek pounced at the end of a dismal team performance at Group A's rock-bottom side. West Ham only managed fewer shots against Gent in those 20 games.
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