Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott explains why PSG star Neymar is no longer his idol

Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott has become a key part of Jurgen Klopp’s squad this season as they are on the hunt for a historic quadruple but no longer idolize Neymar, who was his hero growing up.

Harvey Elliott is poised to become the player every child dreams of growing up to be.

At just 18 he was already collecting winners’ medals in the Super Cup, Club World Cup and Carabao Cup, even scoring in penalties at Wembley Liverpool won the third of these trophies in February.

He’s still young enough to dream of copying the players he adored – including neymar – when he was a boy getting into the sport for the first time. But he says he has gotten a taste of the big time now with the Reds as a full-time member in Jurgen Klopp’s first-team squad and wants to become the player who inspires youngsters to dream big.

In a New Balance series called Assumptions on YouTube, he said his aim is to make the most of his talent at Anfield. “Neymar used to be my idol, to see where he came from and where he is now, it’s very inspiring, but to be honest I don’t look up to anyone in football now,” he explained.

“Now and on and around the team, I want to be the character that people look up to. I look at the players and transfer parts of their game into my game, but I want to be my own person. I want to play my own game, not follow anyone else’s and be a character who can inspire.”

It’s not that Elliott doesn’t admire the players around him as he faces a whole host of world-class stars in practice every day. And he is without a doubt one of them when he is currently the best in the world, eclipsing even his hero Neymar by becoming the most dangerous striker in football.

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He added: “Mo Salah is the best player in the world in my opinion,” he said. “Who wouldn’t love to play with Mo Salah! With Trent also on the right, it’s a dream for any youngster, yes, to play with those two.”

He also retained particular praise for Liverpool’s January signing Luis Diaz, who has impressed everyone at Anfield with his incredible skill and pace since arriving from Porto. Eliott added: “Diaz is already a real baller – yes! I’ve said it before, before he was even a Liverpool player you could see how talented he is but now he’s at Liverpool I’m sure he will show how good he is.

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders claimed Elliott has a relentless work ethic which made him and Klopp stand up and take notice. He said earlier this year: “Some players don’t knock on the door, they run through it. And Harvey is such a player in every session. We like the players with goals. We like the players who don’t.” Only have dribbling or technique, but always look for the last pass and it influences our game a lot.”