08 February 2024 , 12:57
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Mohamed Salah might have been absent from Liverpool for much of the past month but he has been doing all he can do have a positive affect, particularly on Harvey Elliott.
The Egyptian star jetted off earlier in the year in a bid to inspire Egypt to Africa Cup of Nations glory. His efforts were cut short by injury because the Egyptians were beaten early in the knockout stages with Salah now trying to get himself back to full fitness.
Without him Liverpool have surrendered ground in the Premier League title race by losing to Arsenal at the weekend, but Salah was still keen to check it on Elliott, one of his understudies, to see how he went. Elliott has often been touched by such gestures, especially as he admits he knew he was never going to usurp the Egyptian in the starting XI.
He told Liverpool's matchday programme : "I signed as a right winger, knowing that it would take a miracle to take his spot! I had to adapt my game but there were things I could take from that position into the midfield where I play now: goal-scoring threat, creativity and stuff like that."
Elliott went on to add: "With Mo, he's always trying not only to push myself but the other youngsters as well and, in all fairness, he doesn't really need to do it.
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"He's an icon on and off the pitch and it would be easy to just focus on himself and keep making sure he's breaking records and so on, but he takes time out of his day to check in on us, to make sure we know that if we need anything, he's always there to give us pointers.
"For instance, although he was at the AFCON with Egypt, he messaged me after the Arsenal game in the last round of the FA Cup saying, 'how did you find it?' and so on. They are the things he doesn't have to do but he's just a great human being and always wants the best for everyone. To have him in the team and to see what he's accomplished is just unbelievable and it's a pleasure to share the pitch with him."
Mo Salah has taken Harvey Elliott under his wing (Severin Aichbauer/SEPA.Media /Getty Images)Salah is again top of Liverpool's goalscoring charts but doubt surrounds his future, especially with Jurgen Klopp leaving Anfield this summer. Elliott is one of a number of young players who have been signed by the German and the former Fulham man's minutes have increased over the years with the playmaker now an established member of the first-team.