Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has claimed that Harvey Elliott has some of the same qualities as Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta.
In an excerpt from his new book published in The Mirror this morning, Lijnders claims the Liverpool youngster reminds him of Iniesta.
“There is no such thing as like for like in football, but Harvey Elliott has some of the ingredients of Andres Iniesta and thinks like a creative midfielder,” wrote Jurgen Klopp’s number 2.
That’s an almighty comparison for any player to live up to, let alone one so young. Iniesta was a four-time Champions League winner, a World Cup-winning goal scorer and perhaps even one of the best players of all time. No pressure, Harvey!
Time for hype to become reality
There have been years of these such comparisons coming Elliott’s way. So far though, there’s not been quite enough to back them up.
The 19-year-old has largely done well when called upon, and looked ready to go to the next level last season. Injury prevented that in the end. But he didn’t overly impress when returning at the turn of the year.
To keep justifying the kind of names that Lijnders is talking about here, we need to see more from Elliott this season.
It’s true that at Elliott’s age, Iniesta was also yet to fully blossom. He wasn’t a regular at Barca until after his 20th birthday. It wasn’t until years later that he assumed the kind of status he has now. Time is certainly on Harvey’s side.
Football is littered with ‘nearly men’ though. Elliott must work relentlessly to realise his potential. Luckily, it looks as though the teenager has been doing just that over the summer.
He’s looked good in the pre-season games so far, laying on two assists in the last two games. At the moment though, it doesn’t appear as though he’ll have done enough to be in Klopp’s starting eleven at Craven Cottage on 6th August.
But the season is long. Elliott will get his chance. When he does, it’s time to start showing everyone exactly why Lijnders, Klopp and everyone at Liverpool rates him so very highly.
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