Mohamed Salah makes classy promise to Liverpool teammate Harvey Elliott
Mohamed Salah vowed that he will "always be there" to help Harvey Elliott after the 21-year-old scored the winning goal in Liverpool's game against Lille.
Elliott has not had as much game time as he would have liked this season but produced a match-winning contribution as the Reds secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Salah opened the scoring in the first half and it looked as though it would be plain sailing when Lille defender Aissa Mandi was sent off around the hour mark.
However, Lille striker Jonathan David equalized just a few minutes later, leaving the Reds needing another goal to maintain their 100 per cent record in the competition.
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Elliott's deflected strike from distance ultimately secured all three points and it was put to Salah that the goal — Elliott's first in the Champions League for three years — was a big moment for the youngster.
Salah responded: "[Yes], especially because he was injured at the beginning of the season. I'm always there to help him. He's a great lad, and always tries to give his best. Sometimes he comes on for five minutes, today he had 45 minutes. He was great, so I'm happy for him."
Arne Slot made four changes to Liverpool's starting line-up against Lille and also made five substitutions during the match, decisions that underlined the depth of quality that the Dutchman has at his disposal.
Salah said that it is crucial that Liverpool has a good squad in order to continue to compete on all four fronts as the season progresses. The Reds are top of both the Premier League and Champions League tables, in a decent position to qualify for the Carabao Cup final, and in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
"When you want to win a big tournament [like the Champions League], you have to have a big squad," Salah said. "We have a good one at the moment, so hopefully we carry on like that."
