Damien Delaney thinks it’s a ‘big ask’ for someone like Harvey Elliott to ‘carry’ Liverpool during this difficult time, as he told Off the Ball.
The former Crystal Palace defender added that the 19-year-old has ‘done great’ for Liverpool, but he is still in the development stage.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will be enjoying this mini-break because it will allow them to reflect on what has been an average and possibly worrying start to the new season.
From their defeat against Manchester United, who at the time had just been thrashed by Brentford, to their most recent 4-1 defeat to Napoli in the Champions League.
Things haven’t gone as expected for a team that played every single game possible last season and won two trophies in the process.
Nonetheless, when Delaney was asked about Elliott’s progress in the team, this is what the former Republic of Ireland international had to say.
“He is developing,” said Delaney. “Bringing Harvey Elliott into the team last season would have been great.
“But asking him to pick up the club and to go ‘you know what, everybody’s lacking here. Milner’s struggling. Everyone is struggling. Can you carry us?’
“He might well do. But it’s a big ask for the kid. He is just tidying up around the edges, learning and developing in a team that’s done really well.
“It’s very difficult for young kids to carry the weight of the football club, especially the size of Liverpool. He has done great and he just needs to keep doing his thing, then it will kick into gear.”
ELLIOTT HAS KLOPP’S TRUST
The former Fulham player is yet to get out of his teenage years, yet he has already started six out of his side’s eight games in all competitions this season.
In truth, all of this shouldn’t be a surprise because he was handed these chances last season, only for a horror ankle injury against Leeds disrupting large parts of his campaign.
Klopp has clear faith in his talents and age is no problem for the German, his only issue is that, at this current moment, everything around the young kid isn’t working.
From midfield troubles to ice-cool defenders no longer looking like their old selves, all in all, the Reds have plenty of time to turn things around and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they are on a crazy run in next to no time.
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