Harvey Elliott – Liverpool’s Insurance Policy for the Future

By Tom Cunningham @TomCunningham75He’ll get bullied in the Championship, they said. He’s too small; too weak for the Championship, they said as 17-year-old Harvey Elliott secured a loan move to Blackburn Rovers at the start of the season.Four months later, and it is Harvey Elliott who is the bully; it is Elliott who is the tormentor of defenders; it is the teenager with the Championship defenders in the palm of his hands.People often ask, what were you doing at 17? Most people refuse to answer for reasons that probably can’t be said. But, Elliott will desperately wait to be asked that question so he can casually answer with, ‘who, me? Nothing much, just being the most productive U18 player in Europe.’

Harvey Elliott | Reds News

"It says a lot about his mentality. He's surrounded by world class super stars, Jurgen Klopp, playing at Anfield and then he's off to Blackburn. He's not sulked, there's been no snobbery, he's just gone and bossed it."

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— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) February 10, 2021

Those desperate for him to flop now watch on every week as he adds the creative spark to Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn side. Four goals and nine assists later, and those who dared to doubt Elliott now watch on with worry; the worry that Liverpool have one of the best young talents around for the price of nothing.Whilst many teams will be forced into investing in their futures, Liverpool have an insurance policy in the form of Harvey Elliott. The question of just how Liverpool replace the front three has arisen more than ever in recent times, and many have pointed towards the transfer market when the solution could, in fact, come from an internal source.And, yes, Liverpool will have to invest in some part to replace certain players as they begin to age; that’s almost a certainty in the world of football, but there should be no need to invest in a replacement for the likes of Mohamed Salah.

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It may seem like a risky move to look for an internal replacement, but, at 17, Elliott is producing numbers similar to Jack Grealish’s time in the Championship. Now imagine the player the Reds will have when the teenager is in his prime.Just look at Jack Grealish, for example- whose Championship season Elliott is very close to outperforming. He is one of the best players in the Premier League right now and could quite easily break into every top Premier League side.If his rise is anything to go by, Elliott looks set to lead the Liverpool attack into the future. In Grealish’s best Championship season, he registered 14 goal involvements. In 14 fewer appearances, Elliott has 12.The fact is, as the weeks go by, Elliott will get better and better. We have seen far too many Liverpool players fail to impress on loan in the past and, therefore, fail to make the cut under Jurgen Klopp.Harvey Elliott is a refreshing difference. With no disrespect, he is doing what Harry Wilson failed to do; what Sheyi Ojo failed to do and what the once-promising Ben Woodburn failed to do by dominating the Championship and taking full advantage of consistent first-team football.And, by the time the dreaded transitional period comes around in 2024- when Jurgen Klopp’s contract expires- and Sadio Mane is nearing 31, Firmino, 32, and Salah, 31, it will be Elliott who Liverpool may turn for the future.He has the most assists in the Championship and the most big chances created, and he’s not even old enough to buy himself a pint to celebrate!I could be getting ahead of myself, yes, but, when watching 17-year-old Elliott dominate games through his creativity week in week out for Blackburn Rovers, my mind can only begin to imagine just how good he’ll be when entering his 20s.By Tom Cunningham – @TomCunningham75