Harvey Elliott has to be Liverpool’s most improved player of 2022.
With a lack of options in the midfield due to various injuries, the 19-year-old has been a constant figure in Jurgen Klopp’s XI this season.
To date, the teenager has already played 22 matches this term. This includes 14 in the Premier League, and most impressively, all six of the Reds’ Champions League fixtures.
This is a huge increase compared to last year. Due to sustaining a serious ankle injury, the former Fulham starlet made just six appearances in the Premier League last season.
Therefore, the huge increase in game-time this time around would have come as a major step up for the youngster. However, saying this, he has handled it brilliantly.
Elliott has improved massively
At times last year, Elliott looked a little off the pace. Whilst his enormous potential was always clear to see, he did not possess the athletic abilities needed to compete at the top level.
Technically, the midfielder has always been very strong. His dazzling footwork and defence-splitting vision was one of the main reasons he made the step up to Liverpool’s first-team.
This season, however, he has added much more to his game.
In possession of the ball, Elliott looks far more composed. Having moved deeper into the midfield, he has been given the chance to dictate play with his passing.
This has been aided by his improvements in his speed and strength. He no longer looks to be a weak link in the middle of the park, as he retains possession extremely well.
As a result, he has been hailed as ‘magnificent’ by Reds legend John Aldridge. Klopp himself has always been full of praise for the youngster, having claimed he’s an ‘incredible’ player.
Therefore, with such evident improvements made over the past year, we cannot wait to see how far he comes along over the course of 2023.
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