Harvey Elliott was initially 'baffled' by Mohamed Salah's advice to introduce brown bread to his diet, but the teenager soon realised that small margins make all the difference.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who has played a key role in Liverpool's season so far, making 11 appearances in all competitions, continues to impress under Jurgen Klopp.
He played just 95 minutes in the Premier League throughout the 2021/22 campaign after a serious injury, but the former Fulham man has picked up a solid amount of game time so far this season.
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In an interview with The Times this week, Elliott opened up about the influence of his Liverpool teammates since arriving at Anfield.
And one piece of advice from Mohamed Salah in pre-season last year changed the way he thinks about bread.
“To have these players here and the chance to learn from them is amazing,” Elliott explained.
“They all want me to do well and are giving me pointers, for example Mo [Salah] with the bread. I have taken it on board.
"My breakfast is mainly bread with beans or avocado. I did eat bread in the morning, but that was white bread. Now I have changed it to brown bread which is a lot healthier.”
Given Salah's impact at Liverpool in recent years, Elliott knows he had to act.
He added: "He [Salah] is not someone to say, ‘You need to be doing this, you need to be doing that.’ He is more of a guy who helps you out and gives you pointers, and you go away and think about it.
“Now it is always in my head. At the time I was thinking, ‘What is he on about? I’m just having breakfast!’
“But looking back there are so many things you can change in your diet and it is just about the small margins. That is a prime example of what he is like.”
Earlier this year, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp revealed his delight at the way Mohamed Salah had ‘set the standards’ for Elliott, according to The Athletic.
Jurgen Klopp was left ‘delighted’ with the Egyptian forward's decision to take Elliott ‘under his wing’ as the midfielder continues to mature in his career.
And amid Salah’s contract stand-off, Klopp was impressed with the forward's ‘application and attitude’ during training.
Topics: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Harvey Elliott, Premier League, Jurgen Klopp
Jack Kenmare