When Liverpool came from behind to beat Luton Town at Anfield last month, one of their most experienced players on the pitch was 20-year-old Harvey Elliott.
By Matt Ladson, ThisIsAnfield.com
The match was Elliott’s 100th appearance for the club he supported as a boy, and as the full time whistle blew he slumped to the floor in exhaustion. “Tonight he had not a great first half,” acknowledged Jürgen Klopp afterwards. “But the reaction in the second half is the main difference, that’s the thing.
“He will definitely play another 100, 200, 300 – if you ask him, 500! – games for this club.”
Klopp’s correct, of course; that Luton match represented the first time Elliott had moved into the right forward position for Liverpool, due to the absence of Mo Salah, Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez. The first half saw him peripheral, but the second half saw him completely take the game by the scruff of the neck, earning a highly impressive 9.1 rating on FotMob, with a hugely impressive 17 touches in the opposition box and 8 chances created.
Since then, the technically gifted Englishman hasn’t looked back, the only Liverpool player to have started all five of the fixtures since – playing a quite ridiculous 553 minutes in six games across just 19 days.
That included playing all 120 minutes of the Carabao Cup final, then starting the FA Cup tie vs. Southampton just three days later.
“This is why you’re a footballer,” he enthused after the exertions at Wembley. “Digging in deep, [this] is what you live for.
“You need to push yourself to the max in order to get the results and we did that.”
He added: “I can’t wait for another game.”
When you speak to Elliott as media, his enthusiasm and maturity is striking. Before the 2022 Champions League final he was at ease, answering questions in a mixed zone at Liverpool’s training ground, including plenty about the fact he’d been at the 2018 final as a supporter!
Injury return – and England potential
When Elliott suffered a serious injury against Leeds in September 2021, it arrived when he had been seriously impressing in a new, deeper role in midfield – being selected ahead of the likes of Thiago, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“Two days later, I saw him at the training ground and I was in a worse mood than he was,” explained Klopp later. “He was pretty much like ‘boss, head up, I will be back.’ He is an exceptional talent in a lot of departments.”
Again, Elliott’s positive approach, enthusiasm and sheer passion for playing are clear.
His first goal for the club, at the Kop end, against Cardiff City in an FA Cup tie in February 2022 was described as a “fairytale” by Klopp.
This, too, explains why even when he isn’t in the team, Elliott never looks despondent, instead his positive approach and personality mean he is ready to take the next chance that he is offered. “I’m always grateful for the opportunities I’m given,” he explained earlier this season, at a time when his minutes were far less. “Whether it’s as a starter or coming off the bench, I’m always grateful and happy for the opportunities.”
“It’s part of the job,” he added pragmatically when asked about being seen as more of a squad player.
This means that Klopp has come to rely upon the talented youngster, even more so amidst the recent injury problems, knowing that the player is tactically able to carry out instructions.
Elliott has really developed this season, improving his ability to control the tempo, play cross-field passes when appropriate, and be a creative outlet from deep.
Against Man City he was back in the right forward role, but dropped deep with great effect, allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to move higher up the pitch when the team was in possession – a link-up that almost worked perfectly when Elliott produced a superb chipped cross for the Hungarian who couldn’t quite get his header on target in the first half.
Elliott is from the new school of technically gifted English players, alongside the likes of Phil Foden.
Before that injury two and a half years ago, there were serious discussions around whether he might be able to force himself into the England reckoning ahead of the 2022 World Cup, now with the Euros to come this summer, Gareth Southgate should be giving him a call up for this March international break.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
To keep up to date with everything Liverpool, make sure you click follow on the team profile in the FotMob app. Download the free app here.