Harvey Elliott reveals why Neymar is no longer his idol; labels Liverpool star a ‘proper baller’

Harvey Elliott picked out two Liverpool stars it’s a “dream” to play alongside, and explained why he no longer looks up to Brazilian superstar Neymar.

Elliott, 18, has quickly thrust himself near the top of Jurgen Klopp’s selection thinking in his first full season in the first-team. The versatile attacker can play in midfield or in the front three, and that versatility has been utilised well by Klopp.

Indeed, prior to his gruesome ankle injury suffered against Leeds in September, Elliott had made the right midfield position his own.

Upon returning to full fitness in February he has had to be patient with regards to minutes. Nonetheless, he featured in the front three in the fourth and fifth rounds of the FA Cup and played again in the quarter-finals against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Injury aside, it’s been a wholly encouraging season for Elliott who has pushed far more senior stars onto the bench on multiple occasions.

And speaking in a New Balance YouTube series called Assumptions, Elliott showcased his growing maturity when explaining why he no longer looks up to Neymar.

“Neymar used to be my idol,” said Elliott. “To see the background where he came from and where he is now, it’s very inspirational.

“But I don’t really look up to anyone now in the game, to be honest. Now and in and around the team I want to be that figure people look up to.

“I look at players and take bits from their game to my game, but I want to be my own person. I want to play my own game, don’t want to base it off anyone else, and I want to be a figure who can inspire.”

While Elliott clearly wants to blaze his own trail, he has no shortage of superstar names at Liverpool from which to draw inspiration from.

Given his role as a left-footed