Harvey Elliott is one of those players where it already feels like he’s been round for a bit, and yet he’s still only 20. Now though, he enters a pivotal stage in his career where he’s no longer a boy and the expectation is that he starts to deliver on that potential on a regular basis. It’s a challenge he’s well up to though, with the backing of his club, brand and, most importantly, family, as we found out when we spoke with him recently.
It’s been a big 18 months since the last time we spoke with Harvey Elliott; he’s tasted success on the international stage, playing a role in the England U21 Euro 2023 win and becoming a regular and important member of that squad. On a club level he's survived a radical overhaul of the Liverpool midfield that has at once seen the departure of influential figures such as Jordan Henderson and James Milner, automatically promoting him in terms of his seniority in the setup, while also welcoming in new and exciting players to play alongside, such as Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.
As with any top-level professional, it’s these challenges and how you react to them that dictates how successful your career will be, and so far, Elliott has not backed down, relishing the obstacles and excelling whenever he’s called upon. It’s something that’s manageable for him given his support network and the faith that those surrounding him have in him and his ability. At only 20, it would be easy to feel overwhelmed by the weight of expectation, but Elliott has a pragmatic head on his shoulders, and is able to view any given situation objectively. It’s exemplified by his connection with the fans; as he says, it wasn’t all that long ago that he was looking up to the Liverpool players as a fan, and now he plays with them week in, week out, and that’s helped to shape his connection with the fans – one that’s grounded in the reality of experience.
It’s something of a cliche in footballing circles at times, but speaking with Elliott feels like speaking with someone far older, his outlook on life belying his years. It’s a pleasure to see how he’s developing though, both as a player and as a man. And it was nice to catch up with Paisley again…
Let’s talk about the summer that you had, what an incredible one it was. How did it make you feel – must make your family proud to see those kind of international achievements?
Yeah it was a crazy one, but a bit of a weird one as well. I think all in all I maybe had around two weeks off or something like that, so it was hard to try and get in the holiday mood. But on top of that I obviously needed to keep myself in good shape, ready for the Euros and ready for when I went back to training also. It was a bit of a crazy one, but it was all worth it in the end, especially with the Euros.
That sort of excitement of being on a camp like that and having good momentum – how would you describe the whirlwind of an international tournament like that and experiencing success?
It was great. All in all we had one aim and one goal, which was obviously to win the Euros. And to be able to do that in the way that we did – we didn’t concede a goal for the whole tournament – I think it just showed the quality in the team, and the fact that it was the team together and it wasn’t just individuals winning it for us. This was a team collective, and to go out and win it the way we did it was great and to be around the boys and the team that we had it was just an unbelievable experience
Does the success you’ve experienced give you a taste for more?
Yeah absolutely. As kids we all have dreams and you just want to keep taking them further and further and create your own history. It’s one of them where once you get a little taster of it, you just keep wanting more and more. I’ve had little tasters here and there, obviously winning the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, Super Cups as well, and when it came to the Euros it was another opportunity to win silverware and I thought, I’ve been in these situations before where you’re in tournaments and things haven’t really gone your way despite the hard work and effort you’ve put in to get to these moments. So, for me it was just about leaving everything on the pitch, going out there and playing the best football I could possibly play for myself and for the team. It’s just once you get a little taste of one dream, you just want to keep making more and more and, as I said, creating your own history.
You obviously have a really close relationship with your family. Can you tell me about the relationship that you have with your brother particularly?
First and foremost, as a family we’ve been through a lot, and without my family I wouldn’t be here today. And it’s not just my mum and dad as well, it’s my little brother and sister too. They’ve made sacrifices, from not really spending as much time as maybe my mum and dad wanted to with them, because they would have had to take me to training, or take me to games or take me to I don’t know, like gym sessions or something like that. So they’ve given up their valuable time to spend with the other kids as well.
My brother, we have a bond like no other in my opinion. We do everything together, we go outside and play football with one another we play computer games against each other, and, as much as I can, I want to live his dream as well.
I had the dream not just for myself but for him, for my family as well and I’m just fortunate enough to be able to be in a position that I am to go out and play for Liverpool, which is the team we support. The bond with my brother, it’s a massive love, which is probably the best way to put it.
My brother, we have a bond like no other in my opinion. We do everything together. It’s a massive love, which is probably the best way to put it.
It must be nice that, he gets to come on the dream and the journey together, bringing him on shoots, allowing him to experience that kind of world. That’s a nice touch for everyone isn’t it?
Yeah, absolutely. As I said it’s not just me who’s got myself in the position that I am today. It’s a family collective and we’ve all played a part massively so, this is why I think it’s important to not make it all about myself but make sure my family and my little brother and maybe in the future, my little sister get a little glimpse of what it’s like and make sure that they get the recognition as well because it’s part of the family and we’re all in it together.
Paisley hasn’t had a shout out yet…
He gets enough shout outs!
No, he’s like centre stage…
He is, he is, he’s the main man.
Tell us how he makes you feel, because in a world of football where you know everything is so busy and there’s so much going into it, the thought of just bringing everything back, just going for a walk with your dog, playing with the dog, just seeing his energy, how does it make you feel?
You know what, I don’t think there’s anything better than coming home after a long day of training and having him greet me. I think how he greets, not just myself, but everyone when they walk through the door, he’s just the perfect dog for my family and for me. He’s such a loving character and as well as that he’s got his own kind of… I’ll say spontaneous way. It’s about himself as well, so you’d always catch him going off around the house or whatever, trying to adventure in different rooms, which he shouldn’t be going in and stuff like that, but, I think it just sums him up and just sums up the enjoyment that he brings to the family. He’s just such a loving dog and such a great dog to have around us. From the first day we got him he’s been a massive part of our family and it wouldn’t be the same without him.
Aside from the boots-specific chat, how does it feel being part of the New Balance family in that respect, to get that kind of tailored treatment, and that belief, support and faith in you in that sense from a brand?
I love that I received that special treatment from day one of signing. There’s been an unconditional amount with New Balance. You can see the pathway that they want to go down, and I think there’s no better way to do it than the way they have. Some of the creations that they bring out and the clothes and the shoes and stuff like that, it’s just quality.
I say it all the time, but I’m just very thankful to be on board with a brand like this and to be so in love with a brand that provides the little special moments like the customised boots. They basically supply whatever you need. Whatever it is, they’ll try and do their best to sort it out for you, and it’s just a love like no other.
It feels like a family – I would say it’s more a family than a brand. Everyone’s connected with each other, and everyone gets along so well and wants the best and I think that’s what a brand needs. We’re just gonna keep getting stronger and stronger. It’s just massive credit to the guys.
What do you reckon a Harvey Elliott New Balance clothing collection would look like?
It’s a tough question to be fair, because I have different moods. It just depends what kind of mood I’m in. One time I could be bright, you know colours, and just whack on a load of different colours, while the next day I would want to keep it like plain and simple, but a little bit classy and stuff like that. So, I mean it just depends…
Well, that’s nice in a way because it’s not like you have to put all ideas in one drop, and reflecting your mood like that is a good way to go, keep that in the back pocket. If you think of the amount of moods that you go through as human beings, you’ve probably got about five or ten collections in there…
Mum and dad have had a few goes at me sometimes, just because of the amount of clothes I’ve got in my wardrobe, but for me it’s another way to express myself. It brings enjoyment to me, and I always say, just be cool; if you feel good then you train good, and I always want to go into training feeling the best I can possibly feel, and then go out on the pitch and bring those feelings with me; go out and perform and train as well as I can.
You mentioned the extensive wardrobe that you’ve got – does the manager ever comment on the variation and the rotation?
I think he has done a few times yeah, and a few of the other players have as well. I just want to express myself and enjoy what I wear.
When you think back to say even two, three years ago and what your wardrobe might have looked like then to what it looks like now, do you feel that you’re maturing with finding more out about fashion, finding your own look, in terms of how you really are?
It’s massively changed. I think it will constantly change as I get older and as my style changes. I love my tracksuits and being super comfy and relaxed, but I’m also dressing a bit more smart casual now as well which I wasn’t doing a few years ago.’
I personally love that feeling where there’s a bit of this weird fear of knowing that something’s particularly daring and you’re thinking how’s this going to go, then you just do it. Then you see other people’s reaction and you just think you know what, fuck it. That is a different level of confidence, it’s nice.
Yeah, it is. There’s no better feeling I would say. It’s happened to me a few times in all fairness, when you put on something, you look at it in the mirror and you think ooh, this might get a few, comments or whatever, and when you’re in the moment with stuff like that, you don’t really care.
What about being more prominent over the last few years in amongst the Liverpool squad – it’s got to feel good, very much being a huge part of the setup now, along with everything that comes with being a Liverpool player. How’s your confidence and how’s it been for your mental health?
I think, confidence-wise I’ve just been growing and growing constantly since being in and around the team more. You get opportunities and then along comes your first proper Liverpool goal and then your first Premier League goal and Champions League goal and stuff like that, and you just keep growing and growing in confidence.
It’s even around myself and the players, the coach and staff and stuff like that, they already give you the confidence to go out and play and be free. It’s kind of a club where you play for Liverpool, and you’re obviously good enough to play for Liverpool, just go out and enjoy yourself and show the world why you play for Liverpool and why they wanted to sign you.
I think it’s the club where it’s just free, just go and express yourself, but most importantly play as a team and work as hard as you can, and I think there’s no better place to do it …
I think mentally it’s so good as well, knowing that you’re going into train and not really having much pressure on your shoulders. It’s a lovely club to be a part of. Obviously, when it comes to match days there’s a little bit of pressure on your shoulders, because, end of the day, Liverpool’s a big club and people expect big things and expect results, so you do have that in the back of your mind. But you keep going and get through the game and you just become more and more at ease and you know you just want to keep expressing yourself and enjoy playing football.
Your connection particularly with fans is really pure, I think because people can kind of see you and aspire to be like you. How does it feel being someone that the next generation can look at as a hero and role model?
It’s massive, and I think it’s massive for me to set the best possible example I can for the younger generation coming up because I was in their shoes as well, not that long ago. I was looking up to players and some of those players I was looking up to I’m playing with now so for me going from a fan to playing, especially with Liverpool, I want to give the younger generation and the academy the best possible example. People will look up to you no matter what and maybe use me as an example for a young kid signing for Liverpool.
I’ve been in a situation before where players have walked past me and that made me upset as a kid, and I think in those situations it’s always good to acknowledge them and to give a bit back to the fans, because obviously they pay big amounts of money to travel home and away and across the world to come and watch us play. I think it’s the least we can do, and the least you can give back.
I’ve been in a situation before where players have walked past me and that made me upset as a kid, and I think in those situations it’s always good to acknowledge them and to give a bit back to the fans. I think it’s the least we can do, and the least you can give back."
Being like a menace for defenders playing in front of big crowds, travelling with the squad, what do you love specifically about when the season kicks back in?
Always look forward to getting started and hopefully to kick off and having a great season. I feel like after last season especially, we have a lot of points to prove and I feel like as a team and myself personally, I just want to go out there and prove everyone wrong and prove to everyone that we are back and we’re going to be back with a bang.
Final question then: how do you define success for you this year? It doesn’t necessarily have to be typical winning trophies, but are there things that you’d like to achieve on a personal level?
I think first and foremost as a player you want to win trophies. I think if you don’t set out to win trophies at the start of the season then there’s no point in going through the season … that’s the whole point of it. At the end of the day, whenever you win silverware it’s always a great day, so I think that’s a main focus point of mine, and of us as a team.
For me personally, getting more goals and assists, cement my place in the team and it’s all going to come with hard work and maybe a bit of luck here and there if I get my opportunity. It’s just down to me to take those opportunities and make sure I work as hard as I possibly can.
I think just as a person, every year I want to make myself a better person. I want to give back as much as I can. I think a massive thing for me and my family is giving back to people and the fans. I feel like from a personal perspective, just being a better person I think will go a long way.
Harvey Elliott wears the New Balance Tekela v4 Low, which you can pick up at prodirectsport.com/soccer
