Harvey Elliott has insisted he won’t use his inexperience as an excuse as he bids to become a Liverpool regular, declaring: “I am not a kid anymore.”
The 19-year-old has capitalised on an early-season midfield injury crisis to earn starts in seven of the Reds' 11 games in all competitions so far this term.
However, the return to fitness of Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara has seen him restricted to a place on the bench for the last two games.
Elliott isn’t discouraged, though, and is prepared to do everything he can to prove to Jurgen Klopp that he is worthy of displacing his more senior colleagues going forward.
Asked about taking advice from teammates, he replied: “They put their arm around me and give me a helping hand if needed but at the same time I need to solve my own problems and I need to deal with it myself like a man.
“It’s a man’s game and I am not a kid anymore, so I need to have that authority and make sure I stamp things out.
“If there are things I need to improve on then I need to improve on them and for me it’s just about making sure I do what I can do to get in the team and cement my spot. I just need to make sure I am ready.”
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Elliott has a clear idea of one element of his game that requires work if he is to become a fixture in Klopp’s starting XI.
He added: “I think defending is one. Obviously myself, as an attacking player, I have had to make the switch to central midfield and there are different changes I’ve had to make to my game.
“I take on a lot more responsibility in terms of defending as well as attacking so I need to do as well as I can.
“So, for me, defending is a big thing I have to improve on and I have been working on it so far this season.
“It’s going to take a while to get used to it and master it but I’ve had chats with the gaffer and the coaching team on how I can do that.”
However, the teenager is pleased with how things have progressed for him across the early stages of a season that brought his first ever Premier League goal.
He continued: “For me personally things have gone well so far.
🗣 "The publicity that he has been getting is absolutely astonishing."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 5, 2022
Harvey Elliott defends his teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold after recent backlash pic.twitter.com/MP4teu6Osq
“I have played a lot of minutes which I am thankful for but maybe we haven’t come away with results in some games. I feel fully confident and motivated.
“I just need to make sure I am ready and when I am called upon I go out and give it my all and make sure I have 100% focus and confidence when I go out on the pitch when I am playing or starting.
“Everyone will get their opportunity, as you’ve seen so far this season, whether that’s through an unfortunate injury or different formations.
“So everyone needs to be ready, fully confident, motivated and ready to go out and play because at the end of the day, we’re going to need everyone.”