Interview'I'm not satisfied' - Harvey Elliott on form, run-in, Brighton and turning 21
As his 21st birthday looms, Harvey Elliott is ‘not satisfied’ and determined to build on his recent form by contributing to Liverpool’s crucial run-in.
The midfielder is now back with the club after representing England U21s in March’s international break, during which he scored two goals and set up two.
For the Reds this term, Elliott has provided three goals and seven assists across 41 appearances – and feels his confidence has grown as the campaign has progressed.
“It’s credit to the coaching staff and the gaffer to give me the opportunities,” he told Liverpoolfc.com at the AXA Training Centre.
“It’s what I’m in the team to do and I’ve taken it upon myself a lot this season. Start of the season, I got a few goals and assists here and there, but I feel like now after a run of games I’m definitely finding my form.
“Confidence-wise, it’s just getting bigger and bigger each and every game. For me, it’s massive. It’s what I’m judged on. I think last season I didn’t do it enough.
“There’s still a little bit left of the season to go so I’m still always wanting more, I’m not satisfied with what I have. I just need to keep going and keep building on it.”
Elliott was speaking ahead of the final phase of the season, with Liverpool in the thick of the Premier League title race and chasing Europa League glory.
The first of a minimum of 12 remaining fixtures sees Brighton & Hove Albion visit Anfield in the league on Sunday (2pm BST kick-off).
Read on for more from our pre-match interview with Elliott as he discusses facing the Seagulls, the squad’s mentality for the run-in and the milestone of his 21st birthday next week.
On the rabona piece of skill he produced during England U21s’ game on Tuesday night...
It was just instinctive, to be honest. I remember doing it but [not] what was going through my mind. It just flicked up nicely for me and I thought, ‘Why not?’ I didn’t really think about it during the time, it just kind of happened all so quick. When everyone was speaking to me after and saying ‘Why did you do it?’ I was like, ‘I’m not actually too sure!’ It’s just part of football, I want to enjoy it, have fun and express myself and I just thought, ‘Why not? Let’s just do it.’ It’s not too bad, at least it came off – I would have looked a bit silly if it didn’t come off! It’s good.
On entering the critical stage of the season and if it’s a different feeling for the final push…
I don’t think we can focus on it too much more than other times really, each and every part of the season is massive and it’s very vital that we come back firing and ready to go and ready for whatever push it is. We all know the importance of the season now, not only in the Premier League, we have the Europa League which is going to be massive as well. So for us it’s just taking it game by game again: preparing, recovering and ticking each game as it comes. As I said, we as a club know the importance of this final push. I just don’t think we can get too worked up over it. But at the same time, we’re ready to go, we’re ready to fight again and we’re ready to go and do absolutely everything we can. We just need to stick as a team and hopefully we can celebrate at the end of the season.
On making the final moments of the season and Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool tenure count…
Absolutely, there’s not many games left. We need to enjoy it as well, especially with the gaffer [leaving]. He has achieved so much and as a club gave us so many experiences. We have won so many trophies under him. So I feel like it would be wrong not to say we need to enjoy these last moments. But the only way we’re going to enjoy it a lot is by winning and that’s our main thought process. We have a job to do, which is [to] make sure we win each and every game. When it comes to it at the end of the season, hopefully we can celebrate as a club and with everyone together celebrate the achievements. But at this moment in time we just need to keep going and keep building on performances. We have another tough game this weekend.
On resetting following the Emirates FA Cup defeat at Manchester United before the international break…
Definitely. I’m always one to say whatever’s happened in the past is in the past now. Obviously the game didn’t really go the way we wanted it to. Myself, a lot of emotions were going through my mind that day. Just to come away for a few weeks, go and play international football and kind of regain that confidence again, go out and play in different circumstances for your countries. I think the lads had a very important international week – a lot of players were amazing and played a lot of minutes. Training has been very lively, everyone is energetic and ready to go and there’s no signs of what’s happened in the past, which is good.
On the challenge he’s expecting from Brighton…
Another big challenge. Each and every game in the Premier League is challenging. You’re not going to know what they’re going to throw at you until the day so we just need to make sure we do the preparations this week, work on things around what they’re going to do. We all know the qualities they have within the team and the manager as well has a clear game plan. For us it’s just about trying to stop it as soon as possible. We have Anfield behind us, the best crowd, and for us it’s about going out and making sure we do our thing, play our game. Hopefully we can get another big win.
On the progress the team has made since the 2-2 draw at Brighton earlier in the season…
It’s all about learning from these kinds of games and situations you get yourself into. It was two points dropped, we felt like we should have won the game. But if you reflect on the season and see how many situations we’ve been a goal behind or been drawing and managed to claw through and get a win, for us it’s all about learning. As a team and as a collective we’ve gained that experience early on in the season which we kind of needed. Throughout the season we’ve put that in place and made sure it hasn’t happened again.
On whether there’s any psychological advantage in having the chance to get three points before Manchester City host Arsenal…
There is that but at the same time I don’t think they’re going to be focusing on us too much. Each and every team has a job to do and all they can focus on is just their game. We don’t look at other teams winning before us, it’s just about making sure we go out and do our job, that’s all we can do really. Whatever happens around us is just around us, we can’t control that. It’s just about us making sure we do what we need to do and whatever happens, happens.
On turning 21 next Thursday…
I feel older, to be honest! I think a lot of people don’t realise I’m 20, turning 21. What I’ve experienced so far in my life, not only in my football career, has been unbelievable. But for me it’s only the start and I just need to keep going. Sometimes I do forget I’m young. I just love football, I just want to keep playing for Liverpool and keep getting these experiences. Hopefully many more to come. Getting old now!
On what his 11-year-old self would think of his progress…
He would be happy! I’ve always had this dream; when I was a kid it was kind of the only thing I was half-good at, football. I felt like I had to invest absolutely everything into it, and so did my family. To be where I am now is unbelievable. But, as I said, I’m not satisfied with what I have, I need to keep going and have that hunger and desire in me to always want more in a selfish way. But in a good way as well because I feel like it’s what drives me on.