Liverpool news: Whelan makes ‘phenomenal’ Harvey Elliott claim after ‘huge’ Klopp decision
Noel Whelan has hailed Jurgen Klopp for the “phenomenal” level of trust he has shown in Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 18-year-old will be a fixture in the Reds first-team “for years and years to come”.
As per OptaJoe, Elliott became the youngest-ever player to start a Champions League match (excluding qualifiers) for Liverpool when he took to the field during the 2-0 win over Inter Milan on Wednesday (16 February).
The start was his first since returning from an ankle fracture dislocation suffered during the Reds’ meeting with Leeds United in September 2021.
Whelan insisted it looks like the former Fulham starlet “looks like he’s never been gone”.
When asked about the level of trust placed in the youngster, Whelan told Football Insider‘s Russell Edge: “It’s phenomenal.
“I think the trust was there when Shaqiri was let go, knowing that Elliott is the future in that position.
“To let an international like Shaqiri go without a replacement shows a hell of a lot of trust in him. And he’s a hell of a player.
“I don’t think there was any worries about him going out there and not putting in a performance, even on a big Champions League night.
“That just shows the huge belief Klopp has in him and his talent, even at a tender age and coming back from a massive injury.
“He’s fighting for that first-team place and he’s going to have it for years and years to come. I’ve got no doubt about it.
“He’s come back, hit the ground running. That’s all you can hope to get from a player, it looks like he’s never been gone.”
In other news, Whelan fears ‘long-term’ injury blow after significant Liverpool update.