Share this @internewscast.com

He might still have a baby face and carry himself with the innocence of youth – but Harvey Elliott is no kid any more. After a summer of partying with good friend and DJ Calvin Harris, the Liverpool midfielder is ready to dance his way into the forefront of Arne Slot’s plans.

Elliott is still just 21 but has played more than 100 games for the Reds, reaching his century at a younger age than Steven Gerrard and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Of the fully-fit players on their tour of America, only Mohamed Salah has more appearances for the club.

Now Elliott reckons he is ready to step up as a leader and become one of the main men under the new regime at Anfield. Speaking in Philadelphia, the midfielder is here to talk about Ibiza nights, his five years at the club and how it is now his turn to be a mentor for the youngsters.

‘It’s just to make it more about myself and be a bit more selfish in certain ways but I have that team spirit in me, I will never lose that. I want to play for the team and the badge, I love the club and that is never going to leave me. But in certain situations, I need to think about myself more.

Harvey Elliott admitted he needs to be 'a bit more selfish' to nail down a starting place

Harvey Elliott admitted he needs to be ‘a bit more selfish’ to nail down a starting place

The youngster returned to pre-season early and is aiming to increase his number of starts

The youngster returned to pre-season early and is aiming to increase his number of starts

Arne Slot is taking the Reds on a pre-season USA tour, beating Real Betis 1-0 in their first game

Arne Slot is taking the Reds on a pre-season USA tour, beating Real Betis 1-0 in their first game

‘I just need to be myself. Us players, we’re all here for a reason and the club has seen something in us. So I just need to make sure I do it on the pitch. If there is one person to blame, then it is me and no-one else – I need to take my opportunity and cement my place in the team.’

Last season, Elliott was the super-sub extraordinaire, scoring some big goals off the bench and adding energy into Jurgen Klopp’s midfield when fixture congestion was taking its toll. He played 47 times for Liverpool, but only 21 of those were starts.

There was a whiff of negativity as Liverpool’s league title tilt crashed and burned so Elliott took time off to enjoy a summer holiday, going to Ibiza with young team-mate Tyler Morton plus Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite. Boat parties and DJ sets at Ushuaia were the order of play.

But like Curtis Jones detailed last week, Elliott was one of several stars to cut short their break to report back to the training centre earlier than required. ‘I came back a week earlier because I was getting bored,’ says Elliott, laughing. ‘I just wanted to be around it again.

‘I just wanted to meet the gaffer, meet the staff and not get a head start but get myself back into the swing of things because I knew this pre-season was going to be intense and I wanted to be in the best possible position.

‘But Calvin Harris was really good! I went to see him a couple of times. Since the open-top bus parade (he did a set on the trophy parade after winning both domestic cups in 2022) he has been a close friend and we have always kept in contact.

‘I have always wanted to show my support for him because he has done it for us. It was nice to unwind, went away with one of my close friends Tyler, we had a training programme together and pushed each other to get into the best possible shape.’

Elliott’s father, Scott, played a pivotal role in his rise. As a kid, he was made to do a hill-climbing strength programme to improve his stamina. Many academies were sniffing around the Surrey-born midfielder, including Chelsea, but he settled at Fulham.

Elliott revealed his desire to become a mentor figure to youngster stars coming through

Elliott revealed his desire to become a mentor figure to youngster stars coming through

He also spoke of how world-famous DJ Calvin Harris has become a 'close friend' since 2022

He also spoke of how world-famous DJ Calvin Harris has become a ‘close friend’ since 2022 

Elliott Sr, often spotted at games with a notebook, was the driving force in his formative years and still chips in with advice. ‘He is always trying to push me as hard as he can, which is why he’s a great dad,’ said Elliott last year. ‘There is always something I could have done better.’

But now he is ready to be a more senior figure himself. He explains: ‘I’ve captained England in the Under 21s a few times so these are all things I’m taking with me. This pre-season we have a younger group so I want to be that voice.

‘I want them to come to me if they have anything to speak about or questions. I have been there before, I was a young lad in a massive team. I always had players around me that helped me out so I feel like it’s my job now to help in any way I can.

‘I have been around it for five years and I feel like this is my time to really kick on and really achieve what I want to achieve. From the club’s perspective as well, trophy-wise, we’re back in the Champions League now and it is all exciting.’

Elliott played as a No 9 in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Real Betis in Pittsburgh last week, though he is unlikely to feature so far forward when more senior figures report back from summer holidays. But the 21-year-old is loving life under Arne Slot.

‘(His style) is very elegant,’ adds Elliott. ‘A Dutch style, it’s very nice. We just need to keep building on it and keep playing because it’s a different style of play for us and let’s see where it will get us.

‘It’s kind of more about possession now. Managers have different styles of play and the gaffer now has a style which is about possession and keeping the ball, one touch and two touch passes but I’m not going to give away any details!

Elliott has described Slot's desired playing style as 'very elegant' and 'more about possession'

Elliott has described Slot’s desired playing style as ‘very elegant’ and ‘more about possession’ 

‘We are learning different roles and I think it’s key for us to get the understanding now with one another and where we need to be in certain positions throughout games and certain situations and it is going to come but it is not something that will happen overnight.

‘We need to keep training, keep working at it, keep practicing. We have full belief in the gaffer in what he is saying, what he wants us to do – it’s on all us players now to go and do that on the pitch.’

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Introducing the Unexpected FA Cup Star: Project Manager and Father of Four Gary Lockyer Shines After Years of Dedication – Discover the Keys to His Scoring Success

Step aside, Erling Haaland. There’s a new goalscoring sensation in town. That’s…

Viktor Gyokeres’ Teammate Hints at Possible Transfer Amid Premier League Interest

Arsenal and Liverpool supporters would have been intrigued during Sporting’s title celebrations,…

Red Devils Drop to 16th in Premier League: Player Ratings Reviewed

Manchester United lost their 17th Premier League match of the season on…

Inside Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Farewell Bash: Anfield Star Celebrates with ‘Summer of 66’ BBQ at Liverpool Training Ground Before Real Madrid Move – Fans Outraged Over Celebration

Trent Alexander-Arnold enjoyed a Liverpool farewell party over the weekend with no expenses…

Sir Jim Ratcliffe Misses Women’s FA Cup Final at Wembley: Co-owner Absent From Man United Women’s Match Against Chelsea After Attending Men’s Game in London

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was notably absent from the women’s FA Cup final,…

Chelsea Billionaire Co-owner, 89, Faces Accusations of Harassing 30-Year-Old Female Employee for Threesome at California Winery

A Chelsea co-owner has been accused of sexually harassing one of his…

Exclusive Analysis: A Bitter Conclusion at Killie, Yet Bright Prospects for Derek McInnes with Hearts

When the Kilmarnock players arrived at Rugby Park on Thursday morning for a…

The Turning Point in Jack Grealish’s Man City Journey: £100m Star Informed of Departure Following FA Cup Final Omission by Pep Guardiola

Alan Shearer has told Jack Grealish that he has to leave Manchester…

Southampton playfully mocks Ruben Dias with a humorous TikTok video following comments on his style

“It’s frustrating to play against a team like them,” Manchester City center-back…

Kylian Mbappe Shatters 32-Year Real Madrid Record with Rapid Double in Clasico Match

Kylian Mbappe made goalscoring history in the first half of Real Madrid’s…

Channel Nine Faces Backlash for ‘Disrespectful’ Error After Football Legend Adam Selwood’s Tragic Passing

Channel Nine has faced criticism due to a significant mistake in its…