LIVERPOOL defeated Leeds 3-0 at Elland Road but the game was overshadowed by a horror injury to Reds teen star Harvey Elliott.
The 18-year-old suffered a broken ankle and the match was then delayed for some time as he was taken off on a stretcher.
Leeds’ Pascal Struijk received a red card for the incident.
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STRUIJK SENDS APOLOGY
Pascal Struijk has taken to Instagram to apologise to Harvey Elliott after his tackle saw Harvey Elliott carried off the Elland Road pitch on a stretcher.
Struijk was shown a red card following a referee review, after referee Craig Pawson did not even blow for a foul initially.
Struijk said: “In today’s game, something happened that I would never wish on anyone!
“@HarveyElliott07, my thoughts are with you. I’m gutted and never meant for this to happen.
“I wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you back on the pitch soon.”
SET-PIECE KINGS
Here’s an interesting stat.
Since the start of last season, Liverpool have scored more Premier League goals via corners than any other team.
The Reds have scored thirteen goals from corners.
Meanwhile since the start of last season, Leeds have conceded more Premier League goals via corners than any other team, with that number also being thirteen.
ELLIOTT DISCHARGED
With Harvey Elliott not set to go under the knife until Tuesday, the 18-year-old has reportedly been discharged from hospital.
Liverpool FC have confirmed the 18-year-old has left Leeds General Infirmary with a ‘serious’ ankle injury.
SURPRISE GIFT
Harvey Elliott found time to give an injured youngster his match worn Liverpool kit and football boot despite his horror injury.
He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary, where he was put on a bed next to as young footballer who had broken his arm.
And the youngster’s mum revealed in a WhatsApp message: “My son has just broken his arm at a footy game this afternoon.
“Who comes in on the bed next to him… Harvey Elliott and his family. Gives him his LFC top from the game and his shoe. Son’s buzzing now!”
Credit: @jaytothelo on Twitter SURGERY SET
Harvey Elliott will have surgery on his leg after he was stretchered off the pitch at Elland Road following a taackle by Pascal Struijk.
According to the Athletic, the 18-year-old will undergo surgery ‘in the coming week’ after dislocating his ankle.
The report says a date hasn’t been confirmed for when Elliott will go under the knife, but it is ‘likely’ to be on Tuesday.
The midfielder was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by ambulance after suffering the injury.
CLASSY KALVIN
The well wishes for Harvey Elliott continue to pour in.
Leeds United and England star Kalvin Phillips is the latest to take to social media to send the young Liverpool man a message.
He said: “Get well soon mate, stay strong.”
NOT IN PAIN
A relieved Jurgen Klopp has suggested that Harvey Elliott’s post to Instagram means he is not in pain after his injury.
Klopp was visibly distressed in the aftermath of the incident, but has now said: “One of the Instagram posts I liked, if he did that already it is a sign he is not in much pain, so that is great.
“We all saw the ankle was not in the right place and the medical team put it in the right place.
“There is not a lot of good things to say, otherwise it is a bad injury. We have to wait for further examinations and scans.”
RIVALRIES ASIDE
Former Liverpool man Raheem Sterling also took to Twitter so send Harvey Elliott his well wishes.
Sterling said: “Wishing you a speedy recovery Harvey Elliott.”
TOUCH OF CLASS
Marcus Rashford has taken to social media to wish Harvey Elliott well after his horror injury.
The Manchester United man sent out a tweet saying: “Ahhhh man rivalry aside that looks really nasty, no one wants to see that, thoughts are with you Harvey.”
TREMENDOUS TRENT
Here’s another stat to excite Reds fans.
Trent Alexander-Arnold recorded his 35th Premier League assist today, aged 22 years and 340 days.
In the history of the competition, only Cesc Fabregas, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs have reached that many assists at a younger age.
HUNDRED UP
In other news, Mo Salah’s goal today was his 100th Premier League goal.
He is the 30th player to reach a century of goals in the English top flight, doing so in 162 games.
Only Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane and Alan Shearer scored 100 Premier League goals in fewer games than the Egyptian.
Credit: AP ELLAND ROAD WELL WISHES
Leeds United’s chairman Andrea Radrizzani has also wished Harvey Elliott a speedy recovery.
And like Marcelo Bielsa he defended Pascal Struijk, insisting the injury was accidental.
He told Sky Sports: “The accident, it was hard for him and I wish the boy a full recovery and hope he can recover soon, but this is part of football.
“To be honest, if you watch the video, you see Struijk slide with his left foot on him, and it’s accidental. It was not a premeditated tackle.”
MARCELO’S MESSAGE
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has sent Harvey Elliott a message of support, while also defending Pascal Struijk.
He said: “I regret dearly the opponent was injured and I’m 100 per cent certain our player did not have a bad intention. I wish it had not happened.
“Pascal [Struijk] recovered the ball. The action to get the ball did not have an infraction, but had the feeling the movement of the rest of his body after recovering the ball, made him hit Elliott.
“I am totally sure there was no bad intention. I don’t know how to qualify], but obviously some excess of power or imprudence. These recoveries are totally frequent.
“The difference here was the follow-through of the power caused the injury. I regret so dearly a young player has been interrupted through this. I hope he is able to get back.”
MORE FROM KLOPP
A visibly gutted Jurgen Klopp also said after the game: “Now he’s out.
“Do I want such a young boy to have this experience so early in his career?
“No.”
ELLIOT UPDATE
Harvey Elliott has taken to Instagram from what looks like an ambulance to update fans on his injury.
The 18-year-old suffered a serious leg injury in Liverpool’s 3-0 loss at Elland Road.
He was applauded off the pitch by both Liverpool and Leeds fans, with the youngster gratefully returning the applause.
BOSS TALK
Speaking after the game, Jurgen Klopp said: “It’s a bad injury; his ankle.
“It was dislocated and we put it back. We have to wait and see.
“He had an incredible game, he’s an incredible player, but now he’s out.
“We have to be there for him, and we will be there.
“We have to play football without him, but we will wait for him as he’s a top, top player.
“I could see his foot not in the right place, that’s why we were so shocked.”
Klopp refused to draw upon what he said to the referee after Elliot’s injury, he took a moment to compose himself before adding: “I’m not sure it’s the right moment to speak about these kind of things.”
Reflecting on his team’s performance, Klopp said: “We had a great game, I don’t want to be greedy and say we should have had more goals – but we had plenty of shots and some of it wasn’t good enough – but some of the football we played was exceptional.”
VIRGIL SPEAKS
Virgil van Dijk spoke to Sky Sports, he said: “First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with Harvey.
“Hopefully he recovers quickly and as good as possible from it – obviously we have no idea of the diagnosis at the moment.
“From the moment it happened, you saw Mo shouting to the side that it was really serious.
“The whole treatment period will be difficult and then you have to refocus, but we had to deal with it and deal with it in the best possible way.
“Apart from that it was a fantastic win here, it was an intense game, I enjoyed the atmosphere here as we haven’t had it for a while.
“It’s a very satisfying win, we knew it would be an intense and hard game with their fans behind them.
“We had to be ready for the battle and embrace the atmosphere.”
THIAGO’S INPUT
With stats like this, it’s little wonder that Thiago won man-of-the-match today.
AFTERNOON AGONY
Liverpool were calm in midfield today, while Leeds seemed a little frantic.
But the atmosphere and intensity certainly changed after the Harvey Elliott incident.
The league confirmed to The Athletic that Struijik was sent off due to the ‘intensity and endangerment of Harvey Elliot’.
STAT ATTACK
An impressive number of shots from Liverpool, who refused to give up.
Although nine of their 30 shots this afternoon were on target.
CHARGING UP THE TABLE
Leeds are left without a win this season, while Liverpool extend their unbeaten run to 14 games.
Elliot’s injury left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth, but in a hostile atmosphere, Liverpool refused to give up.
They’re now on ten points, alongside United and Chelsea.
FT: LEEDS 0-3 LIVERPOOL
An emphatic win, but it’s come at a price.
LEEDS 0-3 LIVERPOOL
Mane’s goal wraps up the game in what has been a bittersweet day for Liverpool.
Mane had ten shots this afternoon and managed one goal, Leeds as a collective have had nine.
LEEDS 0-3 LIVERPOOL
94. Thiago makes way for Keita, after an impressive performance this afternoon.
The Leeds fans haven’t given up and are still making plenty of noise- even if some of it is directed at the ref and Liverpool.
LEEDS 0-3 LIVERPOOL
Mane is finally rewarded for his persistence this afteroon.
Salah picks out Henderson on the overlap on the right.
Henderson curls a ball to the other side of the box where Thiago picks it up.
Thiago sends it back to Mane who swivels and smashes the ball into the bottom right-hand corner.
99 goals for Mane (after perhaps 99 chances today)
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
