‘That’s how it is’: Klopp says Liverpool player is impressing him in training but can’t get in the team right now

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Jurgen Klopp explained on Friday why Harvey Elliott isn’t featuring for Liverpool right now. The teenager recently returned from injury.

Harvey Elliott started this season on absolute fire but saw that extinguished quite quickly with a bad injury against Leeds United. That robbed the teenager of months – a huge blow as he tries to establish himself at Liverpool.

And Elliott really was that good. The data from his first few games was outstanding, suggesting Liverpool have one of the world’s best young players on their books. Many assumed that already, of course, but we saw exactly what all the fuss was about.

Then came that injury and Elliott didn’t resurface until early February. He came off the bench in the FA Cup against Cardiff City and looked fantastic. He even managed his first goal for the club in brilliant style.

However, we haven’t seen all that much of the 18-year-old since. There was a start against Inter at San Siro but only 30 minutes in the Premier League since that return. He’s only played 45 minutes in March.

So what happened and where is he? Klopp had the question put to him on Friday – was it managing his injury or simply not getting in the team?

Klopp on Harvey Elliott at Liverpool

“Not managing [him], though, really,” Klopp told a press conference. “It’s competition for places and stuff like this.

“He was out for really long, came back and immediately looked like ‘wow’ but then everything settles slightly. That’s how it is. A completely normal situation, all fine, training well.”

So there’s nothing to worry about, then. Elliott is just dealing with the usual players a young player does – he’s not quite at the level of his competition.

Klopp converted Elliott into midfield this season, of course, which is a position full of talent at Liverpool. They also took away his opportunities on the wing by signing Luis Diaz.

We do expect to see more of Elliott before the season closes but it doesn’t sound as though he’s on the brink of a key role. Sunday against Nottingham Forest, though? Surely the perfect game to show what he can do.