Liverpool’s assistant boss Pepijn Ljinders claims teenager Elliott Harvey is surrounded by ideal role models to help him grow as a player at Anfield. The 16-year-old has just returned from a 14-day Football Association ban for using offensive language in mocking England and Tottenham striker Harry Kane in a video made public on social media.
It did not rule him out of any significant matches and he is now set to be included in the squad for the last-16 Carabao Cup at home to Arsenal on Wednesday evening.
He became the club’s youngest player to start a senior match – at 16 years and 174 days – when impressing in his debut in the 2-0 victory over MK Dons in the previous round.
He now trains with the first team virtually full-time and Ljinders believes it is a valuable learning experience for the youngster.
He said: “If you come here and you see Milly (James Milner), Hendo (Jordan Henderson), (Adam) Lallana, Gini (Wijnaldum), Virg (Virgil Van Dijk), Bobby (Roberto Firmino) – all examples in different ways. “They always put the team above themselves. For a young player, you could not wish to have a better environment to grow.”
Elliott moved from Fulham in the summer, with his fee yet to be decided by a tribunal, and has mostly been restricted to appearances for the Under-23 side.
He made three first-team appearances for the Cottagers last season, with his debut coming while he was still 15, and was quickly identified as a talent who could fit in at Liverpool.
There should be chances for more youngsters against Arsenal as Jurgen Klopp gives his first-choice players the night off as they seek to deal with the double challenge of the Premier League and Champions League.
Fringe men Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, Adam Lallana and Joe Gomez are likely to get more minutes.
Newer Post
Edmund snaps losing streak
COMMENTS