Three fresh options for Liverpool have emerged at the perfect moment for Arne Slot

Liverpool secured their place in the Champions League last-16 with a win over Lille, with manager Arne Slot making slight rotations to his team. Three players, including Harvey Elliott, stood out in the match.

Slot and his players have largely downplayed claims that they are currently the world’s best team, but with their performance continuing to speak for itself, that sentiment may not hold much longer. Leading both the Premier League and Champions League, with a perfect record in the latter, Liverpool is in a position anyone else would envy. Still, there are areas in which the Reds can continue to improve.

Elliott, who came on at halftime, was pivotal in securing the win against Lille, showing great energy throughout the second half. His lively runs and a speculative shot contributed to the second goal. Despite limited appearances this season, Elliott has made notable impacts when called upon, such as providing an assist and a “pre-assist” against Brentford. On Tuesday, he delivered the match-winning goal. Though starting opportunities might be scarce due to competition from Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, Elliott has made it clear that he intends to fight for his place. Being a super-sub for his boyhood club, especially with the chance to compete for four trophies, is far from a bad position to be in.

Federico Chiesa also displayed sharpness during the match, nearly scoring with a strong shot that forced a save from Lille’s goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier. Though his impact at Liverpool has been limited since his summer transfer from Juventus, Chiesa is determined to stay and could still play a significant role. Like Elliott, he may mainly feature off the bench, but in football, moments can make all the difference, as Darwin Nunez demonstrated last weekend.

Additionally, Jarell Quansah had his best performance of the season. With Joe Gomez still “weeks” away from returning and Ibrahima Konate’s fitness needing to be managed, Quansah’s timing was perfect. Virgil van Dijk is capable of playing every minute, but it’s not advisable, so trusting all available options—including Quansah—will be crucial moving forward.

Lille’s Jonathan David, who has as many goals in Europe this season as Harry Kane and Viktor Gyokeres, was largely kept quiet. He did manage to beat Alisson Becker once in the second half, but Quansah should not be blamed.

It’s a cliché, but each of Elliott, Chiesa, and Quansah could be considered “like new signings” for Liverpool in the second half of the season, given their limited involvement in the earlier months. If they continue to improve and make an impact, either starting or from the bench, they could play a much bigger role going forward.

While there are still emerging transfer needs, particularly at left-back, holding midfield, and striker, the contributions of these three players could be a significant boost for Slot’s pursuit of multiple trophies.