Two Liverpool players are emerging as unexpectedly key men for Arne Slot after Lille win - opinion

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Liverpool booked their place in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League as they secured a 2-1 win against Lille at Anfield.

The Reds have now won each of their seven games in the competition under Arne Slot and need only a point against PSV Eindhoven on matchday eight to confirm top spot.

In recent weeks. the Dutchman hasn’t refrained from making in-game changes, which have positively affected the outcomes of games.

And judging by Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott’s cameos vs Lille, Slot now has two players he can rely on to turn the tide in his favour.

Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott impress for Liverpool vs Lille

Liverpool’s previous game in the Premier League turned out to be an eventful one as they secured a last-gap 2-0 win against Brentford.

The game initially looked like it was headed towards a draw, but Darwin Nunez came off the bench to bag a late brace in what was one of his finest displays for Liverpool.

Elliott came on as a substitute in that game and played a big role in the second goal by providing an assist, while Chiesa was involved in the play that led to the goal.

And against Lille, both players were at it once again.

Elliott came on as a half-time substitute and showed flashes of his brilliance as he worked hard for his team defensively and also tried to thread the needle in attack.

His efforts were rewarded as his deflected effort turned out to be the winner for Liverpool as he endeared himself to the Anfield faithful with his performance.

Salah also singled out Elliott for special praise after the game, which is a sign that the youngster is really rated in the dressing room.

As for Chiesa, he didn’t get his name on the scoresheet, but he impressed as a left-winger during his 15-minute cameo as he got two good shots on target.

Lille performance shows Liverpool’s squad depth

The players on the fringes of the squad are starting to make a big impact for Liverpool, which is a big plus for Slot.

Wataru Endo also came off the bench vs Lille and produced a dogged display at the heart of midfielder as he continues to see off games effectively for Liverpool.

Slot will need every player in his squad to come big for the club at the business end of the season as they continue to fight on all fronts.

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