Harvey Elliott’s Liverpool story was supposed to be a fairy tale when he arrived as a gifted 16-year-old. A boyhood fan, a breakout teenage prodigy from Fulham, and a player whose technical skill and attitude aligned perfectly with Jürgen Klopp’s sentimental idealism. But football is a game of systems, not sentiment—and under Arne Slot, Liverpool has shifted from an emotional dynasty to a ruthlessly efficient machine. With ruthless aggression and blinked ideologies often comes silverware, however, sacrifices will always prevail on that pathway to sustained success.
Despite flashes of brilliance and a genuine impact off the bench in recent months, Elliott finds himself on the outside looking in after being such a favourite of his former manager, Klopp.