© Breaking The Lines 2017-2021. All Rights Reserved.

Harvey Elliott: Why He Could Play a Pivotal Role in the Post-Klopp Era

May 15, 2024
Player Analysis, Premier League Analysis

Harvey Elliott let rip from 25 yards, and Anfield marveled at the beauty they just witnessed. Cody Gakpo and Wataru Endo had their heads in their hands. The youngster had collected a pass from Mohamed Salah before performing the final act of quite the magical afternoon. He walked off to an adulation subsequently. One wonders why it has taken this long for Elliott’s efforts to be recognized…

 

Earlier in the season, he had netted a late winner against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, rifling into the near post from outside the box, his introduction alongside Curtis Jones sparking the comeback in that game. This season, he is on course for his highest contribution tally in goals. He has four goals and nine assists across twenty-five starts, most of them coming in right center midfield or on the right wing where he has understudied Mohamed Salah. Yet, when England’s Euros squad is discussed, he does not get mentioned at all.

 

He is the top scorer in the 2025 U21 Euro qualifying tournament with 7 goals, one more than teammate, Noni Madueke. He was an impact substitute in Georgia-Romania last year, appearing five times off the bench and starting once. He may only be 5ft 7inches, but his leap is greater than some tallest of players.  

 

 

Four years after being rejected by Chelsea at the age of 11 because they doubted his endurance, he made his senior debut for Fulham at 15 years and 174 days against Millwall in the Championship. He has clocked the third most appearances for Liverpool this season, that endurance is no longer a conversation.

 

Only five Liverpool players have contributed more goals than his 13 [Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz]. That tally is the same as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alexis Mac-Allister and more than his illustrious £60million teammate, Dominik Szoboszlai.

 

The improvement in his overall output has not been a coincidence either. Third amongst under 21 players in minutes clocked this season, the exposure Elliott has received in more game time has led to his game becoming more well-rounded. He is not the tough-tackling Endo, nor the silky Mac-Allister or the livewire Szoboszlai; he is simply Harvey, threading eye of the needle passes and affecting games positively with quick feet and compelling quick-moving football.

 

Elliott has become more mature as well, taking full responsibility for Liverpool’s FA Cup elimination at the hands of United in the FA Cup. The Reds, in hot pursuit of a winner, swung in a late corner that was half-cleared. The ball fell to Elliott, and the youngster took one touch too many. Amad Diallo picked his pocket, and sayonara.

 

 

When both sides met three weeks later in the Premier League, it was Elliott who won the penalty that brought Liverpool level, after the Reds gave up a one goal lead and trailed. His 21 minutes on the pitch that day proved high impact and he almost called game in the last minute, with his only shot saved by Andre Onana has the Reds pressed for a winner.

 

The 21-year-old has never shirked responsibility, he accounted for more than a quarter of the goals Blackburn Rovers scored in the 2020/21 Championship season while he was on loan, eighteen of a total sixty-five, which ranked second in the squad. He created the most big chances, double the next player, and ranked second in key passes per game. For a player who took such risks, he ranked fifth in turnovers per game that season.

 

He returned to Liverpool ready to go 2021/22, but that season was cut short three games in, and he missed six months of action. His bounce back and return to form has been gradual. Liverpool have garnered 0.50 more points with him from last season to this season. His plus/minus goals while on the pitch this season is +24, when factored per 90, it aggregates to +1.80, which ranks second amongst players who have played 20 more games for the Reds.

 

 

Elliott has shown continual development and is one goal shy of his best season tally. The curly hair and nice looks may show a fancy player, but underneath is a pressing monster and a limitless livewire. For Harvey, the best is yet to come and while this year’s Euros might be a foregone conclusion, the future is bright and he carries the hope of a nation.

 

By: Tosin Holmes / @Cosimo_diMedici

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Rich Finley – CameraSport  

EmailLinkedIn