Harvey Elliott has admitted that he was in the stadium to watch Liverpool lose to Real Madrid in the Champions League final in 2018.
The Liverpool man went to the final in Kyiv, and speaking to the Liverpool Echo, outlined how that experience is shaping his mindset ahead of Saturday’s rematch.
“For myself, it’s my own revenge. I want to take that upset and disappointment as a fan and make sure I put it right at the weekend if I’m needed,” said Elliott.
“It’s going to be a crazy experience to be able to say I’ve been there as a fan and then as a player and hopefully get a chance to play.”
The 19-year-old reflected on his journey from watching Liverpool lose in 2018, to signing for the club the following year.
“Sitting there in the stands and watching Liverpool play in the final, celebrating getting there as a fan and the disappointment of not winning. To think the year after I’m signing for Liverpool, I never thought that would happen,” said the youngster.
Red through and through
Elliott has made no secret of his affiliations to Liverpool. Having been a fan since a very young age, the teenager is literally living his dreams.
It isn’t just lip-service either. You can really see the emotion every time he makes a contribution in a Liverpool shirt.
The Surrey-born Elliott may not be an academy graduate a la Trent Alexander-Arnold or Curtis Jones. But he truly may as well be. To have such passion for the club you’re representing is an all too rare thing in football, and should be nurtured wherever possible.
Elliott unlikely to play
Certainly if Elliott is called upon on Saturday you can bet he’ll give absolutely everything. But even with Liverpool’s midfield injury issues, he’s extremely unlikely to get on the pitch.
The best he’ll be hoping for is a spot on the bench. There have been times when he’s been left out of the matchday squad during Liverpool’s run-in this season.
However, there’ll be 12 slots on the side-lines up for grabs on in Paris. You’d have thought that the youngster has done enough to earn himself at least the chance to be called upon.
With five substitutes available to Jurgen Klopp, you never know. These biggest of games have a habit of making unlikely heroes.
If Elliott can go from fan, to pitch, to scoring a telling goal in the Champions League final, Hollywood will be on the line straight after full-time. Stranger things have happened.