Harvey Elliott has shared what Mohamed Salah was saying to him as he waited to celebrate his Champions League goal in midweek.
Elliott’s goal against Rangers was initially chalked off, before a VAR review overturned the decision. Looking back on the goal with liverpoolfc.com, the youngster said that Salah kept whispering in his ear as he waited for confirmation that he’d scored.
“I mean, it was a bit of mixed emotions, to be fair. I was annoyed and I was not annoyed at the same time. Obviously having to wait isn’t the best feeling in the world. To be honest, I don’t really like waiting in general for things!
“But it was an iconic moment for myself. To have Mo there in the background and he just kept whispering in my ear: ‘It’s a goal, it’s a goal!’ But I was just thinking to myself, ‘Don’t celebrate too early, don’t celebrate too early!’” Elliott said.
“I was just hoping that it was going to get allowed in the end and VAR were going to overrule it and give it as a goal, which they did. But for me, it was just a sigh of relief, to be honest. I think it was a great game for the team and for me personally I was more than happy with how the team played and the result.
“I think just to top it off and get the seventh, it was the cherry on the top, to be honest. To be able to celebrate with the fans as well, it was not how I wanted it to be because I wished I could do it just off the back of scoring, but at least it was still allowed and I got to celebrate with them partially, which was good.”
Salah sticks by Elliott’s side
Elliott has previously spoken about how much Salah has helped him during his Liverpool career so far. It seems that the two have a real connection.
As a result, it was a nice touch from Mo to wait with his younger teammate. The goal obviously meant a lot to Elliott and Salah recognised that.
In the context of the game, it didn’t matter much at all. Liverpool were already home and hosed and would have won comfortably regardless of whether or not the seventh goal was given.
But for the confidence that it will give Elliott, it’s a good job that it was.
It also topped off what was a really encouraging display from the teenager at Ibrox. Whereas in the past flashes of quality haven’t always been backed up with something tangible, thanks to goal this time it was.
A second goal of the season for Elliott and a first ever strike in the Champions League. Given that we’re only 12 games into the campaign, that’s a decent return for the midfielder.
Now that Liverpool have a full cohort of midfield talent available, the No.19 might see his game time reduce.
But if he keeps putting in shifts like he did on Wednesday night, he may well force his way back into the starting XI.
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