Jurgen Klopp isn’t a man to admit to regrets often but he does believe he has one this season.
That’s not relying more on Harvey Elliott, the Liverpool midfielder who starred in Mo Salah ’s absence and impressed in a more central role this term. But as Liverpool’s title bid started to crumble, Elliott didn’t start decisive games against Manchester United, Crystal Palace or Everton.
Elliott, 21, impressed in last week’s win over Tottenham to show his quality again and prove he will be a vital asset for new boss Arne Slot. “It’s not like this that I go back and think, ‘OK, what did we all do wrong here and there?’,” said Klopp ahead of Monday’s visit to Aston Villa.
“But if I regret one thing a little bit it’s that Harvey didn’t play often enough maybe. It was in a very important and intense period. January, [with] a lot of injuries, he played really good, he was probably our best player, right wing, right midfield, all these kinds of things.
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“Everybody came back and he had minutes here and there and then he didn’t start anymore. [He] came on [and had] a big impact but it’s really nice that he could show.”
Liverpool have little to play for on Monday with Champions League qualification secured and Manchester City and Arsenal out of reach above them. But it is a chance for the likes of Elliott to stake a late claim for a place in Gareth Southgate ’s Euro 2024 squad.
Elliott has not been a preferred choice for the Three Lions. Klopp was hesitant to get involved in that debate but insists Elliott has what it takes to be an asset in Germany. “If it would help Harvey [to make the England squad] I would say but it's just a discussion in public,” he said. "He has done nothing wrong but some people will find a reason for him not to be there.
Harvey Elliott has become a favourite of Jurgen Klopp (DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images)“Maybe the boys read it and feel bad. He is in a great moment and if someone wants to pick him, he has everything you need. He can pack a suitcase in an instant, it's not a problem. But I will not be part of that discussion."
Elliott is determined to finish the season on a high for Klopp. “Recent weeks haven’t been good enough and we wanted to achieve a lot more, but with the crowd behind us, in the last two games, we want to go out with a bang,” he told the Reds website. “We just want to win both of them.
“We have Champions League football next season, that’s where this club belongs and deserves to be. There are going to be more special nights and hopefully we can put it right next season again.”
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