The future looks bright for Harvey Elliott at Liverpool — but he is set to play a big part in their present too.
The 19-year-old recently signed a new long-term deal at Anfield in a show of faith by manager Jurgen Klopp after he suffered a serious injury last season.
And with no new signings likely for the Reds before the transfer window shuts, the talented Englishman looks primed for a regular role in 2022-23.
As Liverpool prepare to host Crystal Palace, we turn the spotlight on their starlet.
Here to stay
Following a successful loan spell at Blackburn, the 2021-22 campaign was primed for Elliott to make his big Liverpool breakthrough.
Handed starts in three of their first four Premier League matches, a horrific injury against Leeds knocked those plans into touch.
On his return, he was mainly limited to cup appearances to get himself back up to speed with the first team — though he did score a wonderful volley against Cardiff in his first game back.
Sending him on another loan to get further minutes may have been tempting, but Klopp has clearly been impressed enough to put him straight back into his plans.
Shown in the form of a new deal, Elliott said: “It’s nice to know I’m going to be here for many more years, which is a great thing with it being my boyhood club.
“There is nothing in this world that makes me more happy and more excited than this.”
Read more: Liverpool ace Harvey signs one Ell of a new deal
Backing of the boss
While Elliott being handed a new contract just over a year after signing his previous one is a show of faith in itself, Klopp’s transfer activity — or lack of — may be even more of one.
With midfield in particular looking to be an area in need of strengthening, the German boss played down the need for additions while talking up his No19.
He said: “There are plenty I would say and one of them is the transfer market, but the transfer market only makes sense if you can bring in the right player. The right player, not a player.
Harvey Elliott’s statistics during an injury-hit 2021-22 campaign
Harvey Elliott’s statistics during an injury-hit 2021-22 campaign
“It’s easy to bring a player in and that doesn’t help even [for] a week.
“If there is the right player then it would make sense but we always actually would have done that from the first day of the transfer window. From the first day of the pre-season, we would have done it.
“[Elliott is a] super player and came on and had a real impact, [he] played a really good pre-season, [he’ll be] very helpful.”
Made for midfield
Klopp has already described Elliott as being “like a new signing” following his recovery from injury.
His tendency to drift wide and take opponents sees him differ to the likes of Thiago, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and Curtis Jones in the centre of the park.
Harvey Elliott’s heat map against Fulham shows he operates a wide position on the right
Harvey Elliott’s heat map against Fulham shows he operates a wide position on the right
Likely replacing Henderson on the right of a three, the stats show Elliott adds another dimension.
He attempted 1.84 take-ons, completed 22.84 final third passes and attempted 2.45 crosses per 90 minutes last term — more than the Liverpool skipper in every metric.
With the Reds likely to come up against teams who are tough to break down this term, Elliott is yet another weapon for Klopp to call upon — an exciting one at that.
Mo the mentor
Before injury disrupted his 2021-22 season, the England Under-21s international was developing a promising relationship with Mohamed Salah on the right.
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A 39-minute cameo against former side Fulham on the opening day saw that connection blossom once more.
Drifting around the half-spaces, he was a further threat for the Cottagers to deal with on that flank, allowing Salah to stretch the defence with his width.
It was one of the many combinations with the Egyptian that led to Darwin Nunez’s goal in the 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.
Harvey Elliott has revealed that Mohamed Salah helps him on the training ground
Harvey Elliott has revealed that Mohamed Salah helps him on the training ground
And as Elliott has revealed, the pair’s understanding on the field is the result of the work being done off it.
On his biggest mentors on the training ground, Elliott said: “All of them have done it, they’ve all helped me along the way, but I’d say more Salah and the skipper, Hendo.
“Just because I’ve been playing on that right side now so it’s more kind of in their positions around their playing qualities.
“Especially Mo, he’s always giving me different things to work on. He’s always telling me to follow him in training or follow him in the gym so he can help me out along the way.”
Time to shine
Given his impact last week, Klopp is likely to have no qualms in throwing Elliott in from the start against the Eagles this evening.
That display and the new deal have undoubtedly raised expectations on the teenager, but he has done nothing to suggest he cannot handle it.
If Elliott continues to impress in the coming weeks, talk of Liverpool still needing a new midfielder will quieten even further.
SOURCE: livescore.com
