Former Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has voiced his belief that Harvey Elliott can become a key man at Liverpool.
Downing was speaking to liverpoolfc.com ahead of the LFC Legends game at Anfield this weekend. Asked about what he made of Elliott’s rise to prominence, he claimed the youngsters maturity is what makes him special.
“You can see his ability for a young player, he’s quite mature for his age,” said Downing.
“The way he plays and his positioning, he’s not a young player who runs everywhere and is undisciplined, he’s quite mature for his years.”
Downing, who played alongside Elliott at Blackburn Rovers last season, also credits Jurgen Klopp’s coaching as being of huge benefit to the 18-year-old.
“Going to Liverpool and being coached by Klopp before he went on loan is massive for him,” he said. “Because he’s playing with world-class players every day, the standard will be unbelievable really.”
Elliott picked up a long-term injury in September. Without that period on the side-lines, Downing feels he would have been a shoo-in for more game time.
“Barring injury at the start, he would have had a massive run in the team and you’ve got to give him credit for that. He’s definitely got the ability,” he said.
The loan pathway
If you look at the history of the very best players to come through Liverpool’s academy in recent years, most tend not to leave the club on loan.
Both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher never had a short-term period away from the club. The same is true of current academy graduates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones.
But Elliott’s loan spell at Blackburn proved to be a masterstroke from the club. It gave Elliott a real taste of first-team football in a league that can be physical and unforgiving.
The then 17-year-old was thrilling for the Lancashire club. Scoring seven times and assisting 11 more in 42 games, he became a fan favourite. He was even invited back to the club as a guest of honour recently.
Of course, Elliott’s case is slightly different than his academy predecessors in that he was brought to the club as a young player. Although just 16 when signing for Liverpool, he was already a part of the first-team.
But either way, it shows the benefits that can be had from giving a player a change of scenery to develop.
Game time is the obvious benefit. But also playing alongside experienced pros like Downing will have done Elliott the world of good.
It would be a surprise if that wasn’t the youngsters last loan spell away from Liverpool. He is an indisupted part of Klopp’s squad. Elliott will be hoping to push for minutes and demonstrate why Pep Lijnders has nicknamed him ‘the little diamond.’
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