Jurgen Klopp reacts to Harvey Elliott’s Liverpool debut

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Liverpool beat Milton Keynes Dons 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has told the Liverpool Echo that he was really impressed with teenager Harvey Elliott’s debut against MK Dons.

The Reds headed down to Milton Keynes on Wednesday night for their third round Carabao Cup tie, and were looking to avoid embarrassment having seen Tottenham go out to Colchester United on Tuesday.

Jurgen Klopp named a youthful side, which not only included teenage defender Ki-Jana Hoever, but also new signing Elliott.

The 16-year-old – signed from Fulham this summer – went close at 0-0 as his close-range effort hit the crossbar, before James Milner put Liverpool in front thanks to a Stuart Moore error.

Liverpool made it 2-0 in the second half as Hoever headed home Milner’s cross, and Elliott then remarkably hit the woodwork again, cutting in from the left and hitting a curling, right-footed strike off the bar.

There was plenty to get excited about in Elliott’s display, and he showed flashes of why he’s being touted as a real star of the future having gone close to scoring twice.

Klopp reacted to his display after the game, noting it’s ‘really good’ for Liverpool that he’s already performing at this level at 16, branding him ‘brilliant’ and ‘special’.

Klopp noted that Elliott was unlucky not to score, believing his left foot isn’t bad at all despite his first half miss, and hopes to give young players more chances in the coming months.

“At 16 years old still and [Elliott] is this kind of footballer is really good for us,” said Klopp. “He is a brilliant boy, he takes the situation really well and wants to learn. He will always be a special player for moments, but you see overall with his defending and movements, it is not easy so that is really good.”

“His left-foot is not too bad. He was a bit unlucky otherwise he would have scored. They are all good, they are all really skilled but that’s why it is important to give them games like this. We will try to continue like this, so we will see,” he added.