‘He can play in midfield, up front, on the wing…’: Jurgen Klopp suggests 18-year-old Harvey Elliott will answer his issues to fill spots in his Liverpool team after no major attacking arrivals – as he praises youngster’s versatility
- Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott caught the eye in Liverpool’s friendly v Bilbao
- Manager Jurgen Klopp suggested he could feature for the Reds this season
- The Merseyside outfit have made one signing this season amid quiet window
Jurgen Klopp dropped the biggest hint that he is planning to keep Harvey Elliott in the squad for the upcoming season after his impressive performance in Liverpool’s final pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao.
The 19-year-old started as the advanced midfielder of three as Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by the LaLiga outfit after Diogo Jota’s early goal was cancelled out early in the second-half.
Elliott spent last season on loan at Blackburn and impressed as he scored seven goals and assisted 11 in 41 games.
Harvey Elliott impressed against Bilbao and was applauded off the pitch in the second-half
Gini Wijnaldum’s departure has left Liverpool a man short in midfield but Klopp suggested that Elliott’s versatility could be the difference.
‘He can play (Centre mid). He can play up front, the right wing,’ Klopp said, as reported by the Mirror.
‘He smashed the bar. He is different, he can play a few positions, no doubt about it.
‘We wanted to try him in midfield in pre-season to get him more involved. He made big steps.’
Jurgen Klopp hailed Elliott’s display and hinted he could be involved for the Reds this season
Liverpool have endured a quiet transfer window, with their only signing being Ibrahima Konate’s £36million move from RB Leipzig. Klopp, however, insists that he is satisfied with his current squad.
He said: ‘I am very happy with the squad, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t look at the market.
‘But as long as nothing happens, I am more than happy with the squad I have. I am more than happy with the players I have.
The German had made just one signing so far but but hinted he could make further additions
‘We have so many things that you cannot sign. You cannot sign our counter-pressing, you cannot sign our atmosphere that we create in the stadium, you cannot sign Anfield, you cannot sign our anthem.
‘You cannot sign a lot of things and that’s what we have to use. There are other approaches out there, obviously, and we have influence on that. Our situation is like it is.
‘We have a big squad and there might be something happening until the end of the transfer window, but I cannot say anything about that at the moment.’
Liverpool will open their season on Saturday with a trip to Norwich as they aim to regain the Premier League title back from Manchester City.