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In today’s Liverpool roundup, we take a look at what news has been doing the rounds for the Reds. Jurgen Klopp has hailed Harvey Elliot ‘a special player’ after his senior debut, Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore claims they are back on their perch, and the club are set to battle with European giants for the signature of Fabian Ruiz.
Elliot ‘a special player’, says Klopp
Report: As told by the Evening Standard, Klopp has hailed academy graduate Elliot ‘a special talent’ after making his first senior appearance and subsequently becoming the clubs second-youngest player to make their debut, aged 16 years and 174 days old.
The German said: “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.”
Verdict: In his debut against MK Dons, the Surrey-born man obtained an incredible 9/10 performance rating (as per the Liverpool Echo). And although Elliot was guilty of missing a glaring chance early on, his performance was filled with creativity, tenacity, and freedom as he smashed the bar in both halves and put in a magnificent display at Stadium MK.
In truth, the teenager will still have to wait for a regular spot within the Liverpool side, as the usual front three and Divock Origi remain Klopp’s main men. However, Elliot has already impressed this season scoring once and providing three assists in eight games for the youth sides.
The academy star has also put in an admirable return for his country, having scored six goals in nine games for England’s youth teams. He will, however, have to wait a while to break into the first team regularly, but considering he is still many months away from his 17th birthday, the youngster is certainly one for the future.
‘Back on our perch’, says CEO
Report: Liverpool CEO Peter Moore, has told the listeners at the World Football Summit in Madrid that the club are ‘back on our perch’, almost four months after lifting their sixth major European title.
Moore said, as quoted by BBC Sport: “We are back on our perch, as we famously say. What the Fenway Sports Group have done at Liverpool over the past nine years is nothing short of miraculous.
“They have gone through ups and downs but have stayed the course and never taken a penny out of the club.
“Football is a virtuous cycle,” he said. “You drive revenues so you can afford to buy a goalkeeper or a centre-half that will win you games. When you win games, sponsors want to be part of your story, so they write you a cheque. You take that money and buy better players. They win you more games.”
Verdict: The quote was famously branded by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who after arriving at Old Trafford in 1986 said his aim was to “knock Liverpool right off their perch”.
The legendary manager went onto win 13 Premier League titles and indeed knock Liverpool off the perch as the first division’s most successful club, by taking United’s tally to 20 league titles compared to the Reds’ 18.
In the time the Scot was the manager he also won two Champions League titles, which put the club on three major European trophies, although, since Liverpool’s triumph last year, they now have six to United’s three.
If the Merseysiders are to truly get back on their perch, they must win a Premier League title, as it has now been 30 years this season since they last won the first division. Of course, Liverpool are miles ahead of the Red Devils both domestically and continentally right now, but unless Klopp’s men can match their European glory with a Premier League trophy, perhaps United will remain top of the tree.
Liverpool in a battle for Fabian Ruiz’s signature
Report: According to Calcio Mercato, the Reds are facing a battle for the services of Ruiz, with Barcelona, Manchester City and Real Madrid all set to go in for the Napoli man.
Verdict: It seems that the hype surrounding Ruiz is going to continue to rise and rise, with the midfielder initially linked with Liverpool a few weeks back, and now it looks like fellow super clubs have joined the battle for the centre-midfielder.
Ruiz has played an integral part in Napoli’s season so far, playing four times, scoring once and registering an average rating of 7.34. The Italian even earned himself a 7/10 in his side’s victory over the Reds in the opening week of the Champions League.
Currently, the midfield department is not necessarily a position in which Liverpool are low in numbers. Over the last year, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and James Milner have established themselves as arguably the best group of central midfielders across the globe.
However, it is important to remember that Milner is 33 and Henderson will be 30 by the time the season is over. Therefore, bringing in a 23-year-old like Ruiz could only be good news for the Reds.