The Rapid Rise of Harvey Elliott | From the QPR Academy to the Liverpool First Team

Following an amazing 2023–24 season, the question of whether Harvey Elliott has contributed enough to be labeled a regular in the starting eleven has surfaced.

The 21-year-old, who joined Liverpool in 2019 after leaving Premier League team Fulham, has never been guaranteed a spot in the starting lineup.

Elliott gives the front line more variety by being a viable option on the right as a winger and as a central number ten. This will put him well ahead of the Arne Slot era.

The Dutchman typically lines up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, so the budding star for the Reds is still a viable option across the front line.

Journey to Date

Harvey began out in the game by joining the Queens Park Rangers academy before going on to the Cottagers academy to play for them at the U18 level. Despite this, Harvey has always been a passionate Reds supporter.

He would go on to become the youngest player in club history when he made his Fulham first-team debut in the 81st minute as a substitute, at the young age of fifteen.

He would also become the club's youngest-ever player to appear in the Premier League at 16 years and 30 days old.

Elliot's transfer fee to Liverpool was settled in a tribunal for £4.3 million because he was under 17 when he joined, a sum that is still being shown to be an excellent value. For a 16-year-old as well, this number continues to be the transfer record.

Following just a few appearances for the Reds, Liverpool decided to give the young player an opportunity to play more regularly by loaning him to Championship team Blackburn Rovers.

It was a move that could only be deemed successful and it got him nominated for the EFL Young Player of the Season award. Elliott worked very hard to get nominated, and even though Michael Olise won the award, Elliott deserves recognition for his endeavours.

With 18 goal contributions before the end of the 2020–21 season, Elliott's loan move proved crucial to his career progression and earned him a new, long-term contract with Liverpool.

Even after Pascal Struijk horribly injured his ankle, the rising star bounced back, came back stronger than ever, and became a regular member of the squad.

Elliott's 2022 season turned out to be his breakthrough year as he scored his first Premier League goal in a 9-0 thumping of AFC Bournemouth and his first Champions League goal against Rangers two months later.

He has been a constant in Liverpool's plans ever since.

Progression in Numbers

He showed signs of promise in his three Fulham games, attracting the interest of the Reds, who signed him shortly after.

Elliott had a successful first season as a senior football player, making 42 games (in all competitions) and contributing to 18 goals for Blackburn Rovers.

The tricky forward currently has a contract with the Reds through 2027, and in his three years there, he has won two Carabao Cups and one Premier League trophy alongside others, for a total of eight titles.

He made 13 appearances in his debut season with Liverpool and scored one goal in a FA Cup match against Cardiff City.

Before suffering a serious injury setback in his second season, he would go on to make 46 appearances and score five goals.

He added 53 more appearances in the most recent campaign, bringing his total to 119 in all competitions. He played in all ten of the Reds' Europa League games, with his away cameo against Sparta Prague being a highlight where he registered a hat trick of assists. All in accordance with statistics posted on TransferMarkt

He would finish the season with four goals and eleven assists, solidifying his place as a fan favourite amongst the Anfield faithful.