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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

'We all forgot' - Jurgen Klopp makes Harvey Elliott admission after 'rubbish' Liverpool experience

One particular image became increasingly regular viewing as Liverpool embarked on their impressive second-half fightback against Newcastle United in midweek.

With the Reds pushing forward in pursuit of first an equaliser and later a winner, more often than not Harvey Elliott could be found at the hub of matters.

Indeed, it was the 19-year-old whose swift pass through set Mohamed Salah away to create the leveller for Roberto Firmino, having in the first half initiated in similar fashion Liverpool's best chance missed by Luis Diaz.

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Mere days after scoring an emotional first league goal for the Reds in the 9-0 romp over Bournemouth, Elliott's latest man-of-the-match outing underlined why he has been arguably the shining light of a testing opening month to the campaign, beginning the season on the bench but now firmly ensconced in the midfield three as he was 12 months ago until the serious ankle injury suffered at Leeds United.

The teenager now faces the latest test of his burgeoning Liverpool career with a first Goodison derby on Saturday. But having already started at the San Siro, Old Trafford and Elland Road while scoring in a League Cup final penalty shoot-out at Wembley, Elliott has shown himself unfazed by the big occasion, mature beyond his tender years.

"First and foremost he is a wonderfully-raised boy," explains Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. "When you see him playing you think 'wow for a 19-year-old...', but mostly it is all about the background and where he is coming from and how he was raised.

"Since he is here from the first day the players really took him under their wings. He didn’t get treated like a 17, 18 or now like a 19-year-old boy. That is why he is in the middle of everything, which is absolutely helpful.

"We all forgot how good he was a year ago and he was a year younger before all the rubbish things happened. That's the case, he is just that good. That's Harvey, a real talent but we all need luck in moments. Let’s just hope that he can go through this and develop and build on this wonderful basis."

While more than three years have passed since his arrival from Fulham, Elliott has made only 26 appearances for Liverpool of which 17 have been as a starter. Last season was severely restricted by serious injury, while the previous term he excelled in the Championship at Blackburn Rovers.

And Klopp is mindful not to place any great expectation on the teenager's shoulders. "If you want to write whatever you want then write it," he tells the gathered media ahead of the derby. "It cannot be positive enough with the impression we have got now so far, but all the rest is not about that now going too early in a career, saying what he can reach and should reach.

"Can we judge what he can reach? Nobody knows that. That's why I am completely calm with it. It's great.

"He didn’t get different treatment since he performed outstandingly well, compared with the treatment he got before. He is the same boy. We literally love him because he is outstanding as a person as well. I cannot tell you 'shh, don't talk about him'. Do what you want but without my coloured pictures."

There should be no concerns on that score. Elliott is already letting his feet do the talking this season.

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