Today is the day. The day every young footballer dreams of. The day you get to go out on the field at Wembley and play in front of 90 thousand vehement supporters. The day you have the chance to lift a shining, glimmering piece of silverware.
Despite only being 20-years-old, Harvey Elliott has already been there and done it before. As a teenager he had faced Chelsea on the Wembley turf in the Carabao Cup final two years ago. He was victorious then, fulfilling a lifelong dream of winning a trophy with his boyhood club.
But that was merely when he was just a squad player. Up until the final, Elliott hadn’t featured in a single other Carabao Cup game due to an injury. He was never really considered a regular member of Liverpool’s first team squad. Which is why Elliott wasn’t even included in the squad for Liverpool’s FA Cup final game against Chelsea later that season.
This time around, it’s different. Elliott is an important member of the squad. He’s played a key role in helping Liverpool get to this stage. And he could play an even bigger role in the final.
Harvey Elliott to be the hero against Chelsea
At this stage, we still don’t know whether Darwin Nunez or Mohamed Salah are going to be fit to face Chelsea. That means Elliott will probably get his starting berth in the front three. And if he does, then a lot of the onus will be on him.
Just like he delivered a masterclass in midweek, again the responsibility may fall on Elliott’s shoulders to become the hero for Liverpool. After all, even if he is joined in the front three by Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo, Elliott will still be the most experienced Liverpool player have racked up 100 appearances – more than both of them. He also hasn’t just been exceptional on the pitch, as Klopp said Elliott has been ‘exceptional’ in training recently as well.
It also helps that he has already been there and done it in the past. Elliott knows what is required in a final like this. He also understands what is expected of a Liverpool player. He’d grown up supporting the club alongside his father. Even before he joined Liverpool, he was travelling to watch the Reds play in Champions League finals as a kid.
This game today feels like his special moment. The moment Elliott becomes the hero, he is destined to be for Liverpool. It’s a golden opportunity and we are certain the 20-year-old is going to grab it with both hands.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
