Is Harvey Elliott a midfielder?

Harvey Elliott has become a hugely important member of the Liverpool team this season (2022/23).

The 20-year-old made just six appearances in the Premier League last season and 11 appearances in all competitions, although his ankle injury caused him to miss over three months of the season.

However, this season the youngster has already made 27 appearances in the league this season and over 40 appearances in all competitions.

Aside from Alisson, who’s started every game in the Premier League this season, and Mohamed Salah, who’s featured in every game of the season, coming off the bench in just one game, Elliot has featured in all but one match in the league this season, starting 17 games.

The boyhood Liverpool fan is undoubtedly a good player but whether his future at Liverpool is in midfield is a question that must be answered in the next year.

A fixture in the midfield

Harvey Elliott has become one of the first names on the team sheet for Jürgen Klopp this season amid injury issues to the likes of Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

He’s certainly impressed in the role given his age and the responsibility that’s been placed on his young shoulders in a position that is highly demanding in the Klopp system, just ask Gini Wijnaldum.

While goals and assists are not usually asked of midfielders at Liverpool, high energy, work rate, and pressing ability are the main attributes a Liverpool midfielder must have.

Elliot must be praised for the high standards he places on himself, the effort he gives during matches and his ability to rebound from poor performances with many fans forgetting he’s still just 20 years old.

Better options elsewhere

Liverpool aren’t exactly blessed with a young, talented group of midfielders with four of Liverpool’s midfielders over 30 years old and the two below 30 – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita – set to leave the Merseyside club this summer on a free transfer.

That just leaves Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajčetić, not the greatest bunch as well as the inexperience of the trio.

While Elliot may seem like a good option now, his talents may lie as a forward in his career with better-suited midfielders potentially on the market for Liverpool this summer.

The likes of Jude Bellingham, Nicoló Barella and Moises Caicedo are just a few midfielders Liverpool are rumoured to be interested in with all three certainly playing ahead of Elliot.

Klopp has been accused by some of shoehorning Elliot into a midfield role when his size and physical ability are noticeably lacking against many of the Premier League’s midfield.

It’s a question that needs answering and fast given the likelihood that Liverpool will bring in several midfielders this summer, is Harvey Elliott the right choice to play in midfield for Liverpool?