Harvey Elliott is the not-so-soft southerner who is integral to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool rebuild

Liverpool signing Harvey Elliott is proof that you don’t have to get out of the ghetto to be strong enough for the Premier League.

Born in Surrey and raised near Ascot Racecourse, Elliott has shown a lot of struggle coming back from a serious ankle injury to play in every league game under Jurgen Klopp this season.

The 19-year-old has been a bright spot in an otherwise dodgy campaign and one of the players Liverpool will rely on as they rebuild, starting in the south at Spurs on Sunday.

“There are always stories that you have to be downtown to play football, but I think you can grow up and play anywhere, that’s the beauty of the sport,” said Elliott.

“I didn’t grow up in the worst area in the world, but my family worked hard. I grew up with the game, my uncle played, my father played and I always had a vision to be a footballer.

“If there was something on the floor as a kid, I’d throw it as hard as I could. When I got a new pair of football boots, I slept with them.

“Playing for a team like Liverpool is a dream many children have. No matter how far you grew up, there’s no real reason not to. You just have to make sure you work hard and are involved in the sport and the team.”

Elliott’s talent was noticed early on. He made his debut for Fulham at the age of 15 and joined Liverpool a year later.

His first major setback was a broken ankle against Leeds in 2021 that put him out of action for five months, but he even tried to see the positive.

“It has made me a better and stronger person,” he says. “It was a terrible injury on the one hand, but also easy to overcome because it was a clean break and able to recover.

“Because it was young, it was probably the best time to go through it in terms of healing. I’ve learned how to recover, go through the plan, even what to eat.’

With fellow midfielders Jordan Henderson, Thiago and James Milner in their thirties, Elliott is the future of the engine room. His ties to the club feel as strong as local lads Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones. His father Scott raised him to be a strong Red, albeit 200 miles from Anfield.

“When I wasn’t playing myself and Liverpool were in the south, we’d go and watch. My father had traveled all over the country following the team when he was younger.

“I remember going to a Champions League game at Anfield, coming back at half past three in the morning and going to school at seven thirty, quite tired. Seeing the floodlights and warming up the teams made me want to be a professional soccer player.

“For having had the opportunities I’ve had under the gaffer (Klopp) and his coaching team, I can’t thank them enough.

“The results haven’t really gone our way, but they don’t go out into the market looking for other players every time you don’t win a game. It gives us reassurance and courage that they believe we are good enough to play on this team.

“We have world-class players in the dressing room. To be in and around it, there is nothing better for my career.

“Players at Liverpool cannot afford to hide. Everyone is out to fight to win every individual battle and every game. You learn that very quickly as a young person here.’

Today’s trip to Tottenham is a reminder of how far Elliott has matured and progressed. Early in his career in Liverpool, he was banned for 14 days by the FA for mocking Harry Kane in a video.

By contrast, his recent form has been so good that there has even been talk of a late build-up to Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad announced on Thursday, although the player himself sees a call-up to Qatar as an opportunity.

“Playing for England is a dream, but my bread and butter is Liverpool and I have to focus on performing, so hopefully those opportunities will come in the future,” he says.

“The World Cup is a huge tournament and I don’t expect anything. I’m not so sure, but if it comes, have a nice day.’