Liverpool welcomes 16-year-old Elliott, youngest to start in the club

The 16 years and 174 days old Harvey Elliot became the youngest player ever in the history of Liverpool to start a competitive League Cup match on Wednesday (September 25) against Milton Keynes Dons.

Elliott’s young blood and confident display almost brought a memorable goal in the 2-0 win when he twice fired against the crossbar.

The winger is the second-youngest player in club’s history after Jerome Sinclair, then aged 16 years and six days, featured as a substitute against West Bromwich Albion in September 2012.

“Sixteen years old still and this kind of footballer, it is good for us,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said of Elliott after goals from James Milner and Ki-Jana Hoever earned a last 16 tie against Arsenal.

“He is a brilliant boy, takes the situation really well, wants to learn and he will always be a special player in moments but his overall game is really, really good. He was a bit unlucky otherwise he would have scored, he is a good player but they are all good,” Klopp said.

“We have no bad young players and that is why it is important we can give them these matches and try to continue like this,” the coach added.

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Breaking records is nothing new to the highly-rated Elliott, who became the youngest to play in the League Cup when he appeared for Fulham in a third round tie against Millwall last season at the age of 15 years and 174 days.

Following his summer move to the Champions League winners, Elliott hasn’t had to wait long to write his name in the Liverpool record books.

The English teenager was making his debut in the third round clash at Stadium MK as Klopp has left his established stars back on Merseyside to prepare for Saturday’s match against Sheffield United in the Premier League. Elliott made just two Premier League appearances for Fulham as the Cottagers were relegated last season.

But his vast potential persuaded Liverpool to bring him to Anfield and he had already impressed Klopp during pre-season before scoring for the club’s Under-21s in a recent Football League Trophy game against Oldham.

(With inputs from agencies)