Jurgen Klopp has just thrown down the gauntlet for a star as Liverpool’s key attribute strengthens

Jurgen Klopp has presented a Liverpool star with a new challenge and he will continue to increase the difficulty in the weeks and months to come.

Liverpool’s form over the last eight games has seen Jurgen Klopp’s side complete their best run of the season. It even gave them a slim chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season, while Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold resurface.

However, it also coincided with Harvey Elliott taking a back seat and being somewhat overlooked.

Prior to Liverpool’s unbeaten run, the 20-year-old was ever-present in the Liverpool squad, the last man to feature in every game this season. But then he wasn’t included in the squad against Chelsea and has since spent most of his time on the bench, playing in just two of Klopp’s last eight games.

It was a new challenge for Elliott. This is undoubtedly partly due to the new system used by Klopp, which requires a lot more defensive work from the right midfielder. Another part of that was the way Curtis Jones played on the left side of midfield, with the academy graduate being hard to lose in that form.

When Elliott played, he didn’t quite take his chance either. Klopp showed confidence in him by starting him against Tottenham, but Elliott was the first to be substituted just after the hour mark.

And in the next match against Fulham he only had six minutes.

Undoubtedly a great talent, Elliott has yet to find the right role for him in this Liverpool side. Not really a midfielder, but not a winger either.

Of course, his best performance had come just before his dismissal from the team. He was particularly impressive against Manchester United in Liverpool’s 7-0 victory. Often criticized for his defensive ability, there has certainly been an improvement in that side of his game as well.

But then starts against Bournemouth and Manchester City, in which Elliott struggled to impress – as did the whole Liverpool squad to be fair – seemed to derail his progress.

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At age 20, Elliott is no longer a teenager. Of course, development in football is never binary, but he is facing a crucial and perhaps decisive moment in his career.

He is now at an age where he should have a regular and consistent impact on the first team.

Liverpool are expected to sign several midfielders this summer in what will be a major squad revamp. The battle for places in the starting eleven will intensify for Elliott, and as a result he will have to raise his level of performance even further next season.

That’s not a bad thing. Historically it has been very difficult to break into this Liverpool team and this key trait is making a comeback. Klopp has run the gauntlet in this regard by abandoning his once ubiquitous presence and the challenge will increase as signings come through the door.

Elliott has already averaged 0.28 goals per 90 minutes for Liverpool this season, with a total of five goals and two assists. To his credit, none of Liverpool’s midfielders have averaged so many goals in all competitions this season. Curtis Jones is second closest at 0.19. Elliott clearly has a unique quality to the roster and a lot to offer. Maybe Klopp just decided to give him some rest after a busy season. Whatever the reason for his exile, one thing is clear. Elliott needs to try his luck next season and build on his current campaign while continuing his development.

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