Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott opens up on Jurgen Klopp’s ‘warm’ bear hugs

Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott reveals the ‘warmth’ of Jurgen Klopp’s hugs and claims team-mate Mohamed Salah is ‘the best in the world’.

The 18-year-old, who has broken into the Reds first-team over the last few seasons, is now soaking up playing alongside star players such as Salah, Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold under world-class manager Jurgen Klopp.  

The rising star sat down and answered a range of questions for a New Balance series called Assumptions on UMM YouTube channel.

Elliott (left) claims Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah (right) is ‘the best in the world’

 When asked if Klopp’s bear hugs hurt, Elliot said: ‘No, no! The warmth that he brings – it’s a joke. He is (a father figure). 

‘You see it a lot, how he is with players, his players and how he interacts with the fans. 

‘He’s the best possible man for the job, I can say, and the best possible person to be learning off.’ 

Elliott is held in the highest regard at the club — a young man who embraces the opportunities he is given.

Youngster Elliott is learning from some of the best in the world, including Salah at the Reds

As the youngest player to appear in the Premier League, talent has never been in question for Elliott but what he has shown — especially in coming back so quickly from an ankle fracture last September — is the mentality to thrive.

The midfielder is learning from some of the best in the game, including Salah, who he thinks is at present better than the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar right now. 

‘Who wouldn’t love playing with Mo Salah. In my opinion he’s the best in the world alongside Trent as well on the right side. It’s a dream for any youngster.’ 

Elliott, however, revealed that he grew up idolising Brazilian star Neymar and has taken even more ‘inspirational’ from the PSG forward’s documentary Neymar: The Perfect Chaos. 

‘That is very true, I’ve been watching his documentary recently and to see the background he has come from, and how he has got to where he has today is very inspirational. 

Brazilian and PSG star Neymar was 18-year-old Harvey Elliott’s idol growing up

‘I personally think he’s a great player and one of the best to ever play the game.’

The midfielder has made 10 appearances for the Reds this campaign – despite spending a huge majority of it on the sidelines and has found the net on once occasion. 

But now he is back fit and in contention, he insists he wants to become his own player, instead of following closely in any other player’s footsteps. 

‘I don’t look up to anyone now to be honest as now I’m in and around the team I want to be that figure that people look up to. 

‘Obviously I look at players and take bits from their game for my game. I want to be my own person and play my own game.’