EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott believes England can win Under-21 Euros

The manager has forgotten his reading glasses. In walks Harvey Elliott, spotting the pair on a chair he is about to settle himself into. He shouts after Lee Carsley.

Carsley has already wandered off elsewhere inside England’s Georgian hotel, a gated resort with an aquarium in the lobby.

Elliott catches up, hands the glasses over and returns, joking that the brownie points might earn a place in the team.

Even for someone with almost 50 Liverpool appearances and with recognition in this week’s Golden Boy long list, a spot in England Under 21s midfield is not a given. It is an area where the Young Lions truly excel. Club team-mate Curtis Jones, Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Gibbs-White, Oliver Skipp. Angel Gomes is performing strongly at Lille.

‘Look at the names here, the quality we have,’ Elliott says. ‘For us players this European Championship is a big thing. We’re fully confident we can go and win it. We have all the tools.

‘We want to come here and stamp our authority. It’s a great chance to showcase our talent and show the world what we’re all about.’ Elliott talks about the need to be versatile in this team.

For England, he has impressed centrally but also wide right. It’s not a spot that is opening up any time soon for his club, with a certain Egyptian out there, but the 20-year-old — once the youngest ever Premier League debutant — is offering Carsley alternatives. Gareth Southgate will see that when he flies out for the second group game against Israel.

Before that, there is the Czech Republic in Batumi tonight. England’s starts at these championships have been slow for the majority of the last 20 years. This group have been out here for a week and there is a sense that they are keen to get going.

Elliott comes into it having been used more as an impact substitute by Jurgen Klopp in recent months, a result of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new role stepping into central midfield.

‘If anything, I’ve played more than I expected this season,’ Elliott adds. ‘People keep saying I’m young but I don’t feel like it! When you step back, put it into perspective, this was my first proper season at Liverpool. The amount of minutes and experiences I’ve gained have been great and hopefully I can kick on.

‘Klopp hasn’t said much (about the future). It’s up to me to go out and find those answers. I trust him with everything. I’m still young — still growing up — and I’m not expecting to play every game. We’ve bought one new player (Alexis Mac Allister) and there will be more to come. It’s about making sure, with respect to them, that I am better. It’s healthy competition, it’s what you want.’

There is a steel to Elliott. The dislocated ankle he suffered at Leeds when he was beginning to make a mark in 2021 probably helped with that. Elliott blamed himself for the challenge by Pascal Struijk, believing he could have moved the ball quicker. ‘When you have a lot of time to yourself, you think this silly stuff,’ he says. ‘I snapped out of it.’

The specialist predicted he would be out for six months and he takes pride in returning within four. He came back stronger mentally but had also used the time to work on the fundamentals of his body. ‘It was core, body muscle — it may sound like small things but being able to protect the ball, not get knocked off it. You’re up against fully-grown men and I haven’t properly filled out yet. I wanted to give myself a head start and it worked.

‘I need to work to get into the seniors, for Gareth to have a look and think, “He’s ready”. There’s obviously something in my game that I’m not doing that other players are. I’ll reflect on the season and how I can improve.’

He will have help there. His father, Scott, a Liverpool fan, routinely grills him on his own game. Elliott playfully describes him as a ‘mad man,’ travelling everywhere to watch Klopp’s side.

Elliott launches into a story to illustrate why his progression on Merseyside in particular is so important. ‘The first kit he put me in was Liverpool — I had no choice,’ he says.

‘I remember a game in 2012 when I was in QPR’s academy. They were playing Liverpool. I was actually mascot that day. We sat in the home end and Sebastian Coates scored a scissor kick. I celebrated like I was in the away end. It didn’t go down too well!’

‘The season just gone was frustrating, we didn’t get the outcomes we’d planned but on a personal level it was massive. I want to bring that experience here.

‘With this England group, it’s no different to being at Liverpool in terms of the way we play and the chemistry. There is that winning mentality.’