Harvey Elliott’s best season so far hints at more to come under Arne Slott – Liverpool FC

It was Harvey Elliott’s most productive season yet for Liverpool – and it hinted at plenty of promise for the future.

The 2023/24 season was littered with exceptional moments for the 21-year-old Elliott.

He became a key part of Liverpool’s side in Jurgen Klopp’s final year as manager and produced his best return to the Premier League in terms of goals (three) and assists (six).

He did so despite playing fewer minutes overall in the league than last season, and will now be hoping to play an even bigger role in the starting XI under the new manager, who he will be looking to impress from the start.

Always available

Only seven outfield players in Liverpool’s squad have played more minutes than Elliott in all competitions during the 2023/24 season.

His 2,784 minutes almost matched the 2,788 he played during a breakthrough first-team season on loan at Blackburn in 2020/21.

He was also the only player to appear in the squad for all 58 games that Liverpool played in the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Such availability is a valuable asset on a team that is challenged on multiple fronts each season, especially one that has had its (un)fair share of injury problems.

Availability is one thing, but for it to be useful and meaningful, the player needs to perform when called upon.

It’s something Elliott does more often than not, despite being at an age where he’s still developing as a first-team player.

It’s easy to forget that he’s still only 21 and one of the youngest players in this Liverpool squad.

He was one of the outstanding young players in English football in the 2023/24 season, although this is sometimes overlooked or taken for granted.

Stats man

Elliott brings an element of control and creativity to the game, which can often be very useful off the bench. Twenty-three of his 26 substitute appearances last season came in the league.

He is effective in keeping the ball in tight areas and contributing to the build-up of play, and in the middle of it all is a desire to push the team forward through passing or carrying the ball.

This is reflected in the data, where he is among the best players in Europe in various attacking and creative metrics, whether rated as a central midfielder or an attacking midfielder/winger.

The radar below from FBref shows just how impressive his underlying numbers are in areas of the game that include creativity and progression.

The data also shows that he is usually in a good position to receive the ball from other forward thinking players.

All this together makes him a valuable tool in attack.

Slot number 10?

Elliott is one of the creative offensive players who could thrive under new head coach Arne Slott.

Dominik Szoboszlai could also benefit from the Dutchman’s system, but Elliott joins Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones as options in central and attacking midfield.

Slott regularly plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, but there can be a number of creative players in it, especially as the shape is not entirely symmetrical and can sometimes look like the three in midfield already seen at Liverpool.

That creative side of the game is not the sole responsibility of the number 10 in the middle of the three.

Elliott’s baseline stats compared to his results suggest there will be more to come from him in future seasons.

A fresh approach and a system where he can find a regular role could see him move on.

More starts in the league and a more defined role could help build on some already impressive body of work and make him one of the top 10 or creative players in the league.

Best moment: A wonderful goal in front of the Kop against Spurs.

Worst moment: Liverpool lost to Man United in the FA Cup when it looked like they had scored the winner.

Role next season: Rotating playmaker.