Professional debut at 15 years old. Harvey Elliott has long been regarded as one of Liverpool’s brightest prospects. Why has Arne Slot never seemed to trust him like Jurgen Klopp and will his limited physicality be his eventual demise.
Rejected by Chelsea
Here begins a pattern we will see throughout Harvey Elliott’s career.
As a young boy growing up in Chertsey, Harvey was trained by his father who remains a big part of his life.
After securing trials at Chelsea for his son, the club rejected signing then 11 year old due to him being ‘too small’ for his age.
This lack of physicality did not cost him his career despite early ‘fears’. At 13, he was signed by Fulham where the young Englishman where he eventually rose to prominence.
His exceptional technical ability alongside his obvious physical limitations will become the story of his career.
Boyhood Liverpool Fan
After making his debut in the EFL Cup at just 15 years of age, Harvey Elliott was at the time the youngest ever player to feature in the competition.
At the end of that same season 2018/19, he was signed by Liverpool from Fulham for a post-tribunal fee of £4 million.
His dream of playing for his boyhood side had just become a reality.
Jurgen Klopp’s growing trust
Harvey Elliot’s Liverpool career was gradual in it’s progression. He made a combined 8 Premier League appearances in his first three season’s at the club with only 1 assist to his name.
‘A Moment to Cherish’
A horrific ankle injury in September 2021 against Leeds stifled his progression.
After months of rehabilitation, he returned to the fold and scored immediately upon his return. A beautiful touch and volley on the turn into the bottom right corner of Cardiff’s goal.
His first for Liverpool, up there with some of the finest to be scored at the Kop End.
The talent was there for all to see, the end product however, was inconsistent. That combined with his one-footedness, only trusting his left boot in pressurized situations led to predictability.
Fortunately for Harvey Elliott, Jurgen Klopp was willing to be patient and work with the youngster to develop that clinical edge required in the Premier League.
Breakout Season
His breakout season came in 2022/23. He went on to make a total of 44 appearances, averaging a goal/assist every 161 minutes.
That year Liverpool had suffered a major drop off. After chasing Man City to within 1 point of the Premier League Crown the season prior.
Harvey Elliott’s rise and progression was one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise disappointing season.
Harvey Elliott was 20 at the time, with a manager in Jurgen Klopp who had the ability to get the very best out of his players. It seemed the world was at this feet.
Klopp’s Midfield Rebuild and Final Season
Harvey Elliott’s versatility is one of this key attributes. His competence in Attacking Midfield, Central Midfield and Right Winger led to many opportunities but rarely a run of consistent games in the same position.
Elliott’s 2023/24 season was a mixture of impactful performances and areas needing improvement. While he often excelled as a substitute, delivering crucial contributions off the bench, his starting appearances were inconsistent.
Totalling 2,783 minutes played, almost doubling the previous season tally. His trust and impact within the team was growing. Then, to the shock of everyone at the club, Jurgen Klopp announced his departure.
An Unfortunate Casualty
Arne Slot inherited the Jurgen Klopp machine and fine-tuned it into a consistent and defensively solid unit on course to win Liverpool their 20th League Title.
Most players have benefitted under Slot’s tutelage, Harvey Elliott is not one of them.
Arne Slot has shown repeatedly that he prefers to play the same side as often as possible. His Midfield Trio of MacAllister-Gravenberch-Szoboszlai has received many plaudits this season.
Their technical ability on the ball is matched by their physical strength, tenacity and intensity.
Steep competition and a Manager who doesn’t rotate
Harvey Elliott finds himself in a predicament. Being only 22 years of age, it’s crucial for him to get the game-time he needs in order to continue his progression.
Unfortunately for him he is competing against players who are just as technical in their creative aspects but twice his height, weight and overall physical prowess.
It is difficult to make an argument for Harvey Elliott starting over Dominik Szoboszlai.
The Hungarian National Team Captain is 24 years old, stands at 6’1″ and is renowned for his seemingly endless stamina and drive late into games alongside his excellent technical ability.
Here we see that same pattern again from earlier in Elliott’s career. Physical limitations make him a less desirable player especially when competing in the Premier League.
No matter the talent, he is too small for Midfield, too slow to be a Wide Forward and not imposing enough to play anywhere else.
Career Defining Summer for Harvey Elliott
Few can imagine how difficult it must be to leave your Boyhood Side.
In 2018/19, Harvey Elliott must’ve dreamt about the long future he had ahead at Liverpool. Now, that future is leading him to stagnation.
He’s only made 11 appearances so far this season. Despite that, he has still managed to be impactful.
His late winner away at PSG and beautiful threaded assist for Federico Chiesa’s late goal at Wembley are just a few highlights.
His finishing and overall composure has improved tremendously from his initial few seasons under Klopp. It’s just a shame that there doesn’t appear to be a pathway for him to develop.
Harvey Elliott must leave Liverpool this summer, for his own sake. Either a loan move and a permeant transfer is necessary for him to achieve the potentially his dad had seen in him all those years ago.
Clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Brighton have been rumoured to be interested in a swoop for the summer for a fee of around £40 million.
Liverpool Fans would be sad to see him go, but ultimately wish him only the best for his future.
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