InterviewHarvey Elliott on confidence boost, derby emotions and midfield competition
Harvey Elliott says Liverpool are raring to go for their ‘massive’ Merseyside derby with Everton this weekend.
Jürgen Klopp’s side head into Saturday’s 12.30pm BST kick-off at Anfield looking to build on an encouraging start to the new campaign, as they return to Premier League action following the recent international break.
And Elliott, who came back to the AXA Training Centre this week buoyed by two strong performances with England’s U21 side, feels he and his Reds teammates are ready to get straight back to it as the club season resumes.
The midfielder told Liverpoolfc.com: “It’s going to be a massive game. If a Merseyside derby is not something to look forward to then I don’t know what is!
“But the boys are raring to go, everybody is fired up and looking at it in training. Everton are obviously going to be very competitive, as we are, and it’s another opportunity to go out and hopefully paint the city red.”
Read on for our pre-match interview with the No.19…
On captaining England U21s during the international break…
It was probably up there with one of the best, I’d say. It’s always a pleasure to play for your national team, and there’s no better feeling than scoring and assisting. But to get the armband as well, it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
On taking the confidence from his international performances into club football…
Yeah, definitely. Confidence-wise, it’s through the roof at the moment. I feel like it can help me and my performances coming back. You’re able to take that confidence into club football now, apply that, and hopefully do the same things you were doing in the games away [with England], you can bring to the table for club football. That’s exactly what I’m looking to do.
On his memories of Merseyside derbies growing up as a Liverpool supporter…
It was always a massive fixture. The whole world knows about it, it’s a massive game and growing up as a kid, if I wasn’t able to watch it live because I was playing football, I would always record and make sure all phones were off until I got back! For the city, it’s a massive game, and it’s always going to be a challenge. Everton are obviously going to be very competitive, as we are, and it’s another opportunity to go out and hopefully paint the city red.
On the feelings of excitement and tension heading into a derby game…
I think it’s just pure excitement. It only happens twice a season, and it gets better and better each time. There are some nerves, but I’d say it’s more excitement in the morning, waking up and knowing that you want to go out and put the best possible performance in for yourself, the team and for the fans around the world. As soon as you step out on the pitch those kind of feelings [of nervousness] go. It’s about making sure you’re focused on the game, 100 per cent at it and that you do everything that you’ve learnt in training and make sure you apply that in the game.
On Liverpool’s new signings understanding the importance of the game…
I don’t think you need to be a Liverpool fan to know the meaning of this game. The new signings have come in and hit the ground running. They know everything about Liverpool and the Liverpool way, and that’s credit to them for adapting and getting used to the surroundings, and for being such lovely people as well. That’s allowed them to gel together with us. Some of them are from different countries, they may not be able to speak the same language and stuff, but I feel like the way we’ve come together this season so far, it feels like a family and we just want to go out, work for each other, work as a team and keep getting results.
On the challenge posed by Everton…
Absolutely. It’s another game where it will always be tough. And with it being a Merseyside derby, and at our place as well, they’ll want to come and cause an upset. But it’s nothing we haven't experienced before. It’s down to us, how we play and what we’ve learned throughout this week, what we’ve practised in training, making sure we apply it in the game. For us it’s as big a game as anything and we want to go out and get the win. It’s not going to be easy for sure, but we just need to make sure we’re 100 per cent at it and hopefully we’ll come away with three points.
On his personal targets going forward…
It’s always going to be hard. You look around the team and there are lots of world-class players, players from all over the world who are capable of playing week in and week out. That’s the target for myself, to try to get in the team and try to cement my spot. That’s not going to be easy due to the quality of the team and the squad depth that we have now. But everybody is going to get a chance, everybody’s going to go out and play and showcase their talent. For me it’s just about being ready if I’m called upon and to go out onto the pitch and try to give it my all, which I do in every game. Don’t leave anything on the pitch and run your socks off, as they say.