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Mohamed Salah, Harvey Elliott and Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool in action during a Liverpool Training Session at AXA Training Centre (Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Harvey Elliott has hailed Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah’s influence on his career after firing England Under-21s to the European Championships final.

The Liverpool midfielder scored a stunning brace as the young Lions beat Netherlands 2-1 to set up a showdown with Germany in Bratislava.

The playmaker has been a leading player for Lee Carsley’s side in Slovakia, starting all five matches to date, scoring four goals and serving as vice-captain to James McAtee.

England will be looking to win the tournament for the second-successive time, with Elliott previously a squad player when the Under-21s beat Spain to be crowned European champions in 2023.

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But now playing a starring role for his country, Elliott has taken time to point to the impact of Liverpool team-mates Van Dijk and Salah after his two goals sent England through to the final.

“At so many moments throughout the season the likes of Mohamed Salah has had to score important goals, winning goals,” he said.

“Towards the end of the season Van Dijk came up and scored a header in the 90th minute.

“I think things like that, to not give up, to keep going to the final whistle and take these opportunities, I think that's leadership.

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“You can speak as much as you want on the pitch, you can say whatever, but at the end of the day when the moment comes and you need to show up, and you need to, for example, in my situation, score a goal.

“It's about how you take that, and those opportunities are vital.

Today I'm just so happy I was able to contribute and get the two goals to win us the game.”

He continued: “In the final it could be someone else.

I just hope I can keep the team spirits high and give the motivation to the team, that it doesn't have to be me or the attackers.

“It can be anyone in the team, because we're all amazing players and we deserve to be here.

“The squad is incredible in terms of the quality, in terms of how we play football as a team, and the togetherness we have.

“The moment we have fear within ourselves is the moment it goes wrong.

“I think now, especially after the Spain game, the fear isn’t there anymore.

We can take on any team, we can play to the best of our abilities and we go into every game now thinking that we can win because we have the players, we have the squad, and we have the backing from the manager as well.

“There is no fear, it’s just about us going out and delivering and we’re doing that at the minute.”

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Elliott's Liverpool future remains uncertain after finding his starting opportunities limited under Arne Slot.
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