Arne Slot can take advantage of Jurgen Klopp’s biggest regret at Liverpool

Throughout his time in charge at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp has never been one to harbor regrets. But, not for the first time during his Anfield career, Harvey Elliott proves the exception.

Reflecting on Elliott’s man-of-the-match performance against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, Klopp admitted the youngster deserved more minutes in the second half of the season.

Indeed, that it was only Elliott’s ninth Premier League start underlines that, despite starting just two of Liverpool’s 20 cup games this season, he has regularly been passed over sight in the top ranking.

READ MORE: He was one of Liverpool’s biggest superstars – but he was never really loved

READ MORE: Luis Diaz spotted what’s next at Liverpool games as rumors swirl about his future

Not for lack of impact, considering there were only four league games where he didn’t at least come off the bench. He is the only player to feature in every matchday squad and has only missed one since the trip to Aston Villa in May 2022. Instead, Elliott’s ability to play in a number of different positions has arguably mattered , against him and made it difficult to find. down one place in his preferred role on the right of the middle triumvirate.

The competition there is probably fiercer than anywhere else in the field. Dominik Szoboszlai was the main starter in the position, but Ryan Gravenberch also played, while Alexis Mac Allister filled the role occasionally. All three arrived last summer for a total of £130m. It also didn’t help that the position in which Elliott was otherwise used more regularly, on the right of attack, Mohamed Salah is the clear first choice.

But the numbers tell the real story. Elliott has created more goals than any other Liverpool midfielder this season and, ahead of this weekend’s penultimate round of fixtures, Manchester City duo Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri were the only two Premier League players to provide more assists decisive in 2024.

Throw in his performances for England Under-21s and Elliott has 24 goal contributions this season. While Klopp was right to sidestep talk on Friday of the player being called up to England’s senior squad for the Euros, it is clear that Elliott is now over the age group for his country.

Elliott has been at Liverpool for nearly five years, having been snapped up as a 16-year-old from Fulham in July 2019. And it’s worth remembering that he’s younger than Jarell Quansah and just three months older than Conor Bradley , both of whom have only made their true first-team breakthroughs this season.

All three also reverted to a trend where being sent out on loan was often the stumbling block to a burgeoning career at Anfield. Quansah spent part of last season at Bristol Rovers in League One, while Bradley had the entire campaign in the division with Bolton Wanderers.

Elliott, meanwhile, spent a season in the Championship at Blackburn Rovers in 2020/21 where he made 42 appearances. Given that campaign and his lengthy absence the following season through injury, it is a testament to his growing importance at Liverpool that he has now made 117 appearances for the club. Curtis Jones, who is two years older, made just 14 more starts.

However, 54 of those 117 games were off the bench compared to 63 as a starter. Opening the gap in favor of the latter number will certainly be Elliott’s main goal next season – and making sure Arne Slot has no regrets if he trusts his growing talent.