Pundit Claims Liverpool May Have The Next Xavi In Their Ranks

Pundit and former Liverpool player Luis Garcia has been heaping praise on youngster Harvey Elliott.

Elliott has impressed in his short-career at Anfield thus far and has travelled with the Reds’ squad to Asia as the club step up their preparations for the new season. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side are currently training in Singapore to play their second pre-season game, following a 4-0 defeat to Manchester United on Tuesday. 

Speaking on LFCTV, Garcia and Jason McAteer waxed-lyrical about Elliott.

The two former Liverpool players were watching the Merseyside club’s training session on Wednesday, and the pair were blown away by the 19-year-old.

“You’ve been around Xavi and Iniesta, you saw them you played with them, you grew up with the, I don’t know whether it’s just because he’s small and he’s that kind of build, but I get the feeling that he could mould into that kind of player, do you see that?” McAteer asked Garcia.

“Of course, I see something that reminds me of those players, his body position, he’s always well-orientated towards the game and his ball control is always forwards and that’s how they play in Barcelona,” Garcia added. 

Elliot arrived at Liverpool from Fulham in the summer of 2019 at the age of just 16, having become the youngest player to ever play in the Premier League just a few months prior to the move, at 16 years and 30 days. 

The England under-21 international made just 8 appearances in his first season in the North West, before being shipped out to Blackburn Rovers on loan for the 2020/21 campaign.

At Blackburn, Elliott made a name for himself, featuring 41 times in the Championship, scoring seven goals.

Last season, after impressing early in the campaign, the teenager suffered a dislocated ankle and was sidelined for five months. However, he returned to finish the season with 11 appearances in all competitions.

With expectations about Elliott’s potential rising, Klopp is likely to use the starlet significantly more frequently in the upcoming season, as he looks to develop the player further.