Former Premier League defender Alan Hutton has delivered his verdict on the role of Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott for the upcoming 2022/23 season. 

The lowdown: Unfortunate timing

Following a stellar loan spell at Blackburn Rovers in 2020/21, where the attacking midfielder directly contributed to 18 goals in 42 outings, Elliott returned to Merseyside last season and featured in the opening four Premier League matches under Jurgen Klopp.

However, the 19-year-old's development was curtailed when an innocuous collision at Elland Road against Leeds United saw the teenager break his ankle and subsequently miss almost five months of action before making a goalscoring return at Anfield in the FA Cup victory over Cardiff City in February.

While the England youth international is currently away with the senior squad on a pre-season tour of Thailand, one pundit has suggested that Elliott could become a prominent figure in the first team over the next few months...

The latest: Elliott backed for Liverpool breakthrough

Speaking to Football Insider, former Aston Villa defender and Hutton claimed that Liverpool starlet could make an impact on Klopp's side next season.

The BBC Radio commentator said: “I really like him. I covered a lot of games at the start of last season before his injury. There was one that stuck out in my mind, I think they were playing Burnley at home and he was in the midfield and he linked up so well with Trent [Alexander-Arnold] on the right-hand side. He just played with such a freedom.

“For one so young, playing at such a big club, and all that pressure that was on him he just took it in his stride. It was a real shame the injury came at that moment in time because he was really flourishing within that team like a regular.

“He’s got over it now, hopefully, he can get back to his best as soon as possible but I would like to see him kick on this season. I think there’s an opportunity. If you can say anything about the Liverpool side where there’s room for improvement it is the midfield. And that’s not saying anything bad about the players that are already there.

“You look at the likes of Jordan Henderson, who’s not getting any younger, Thiago [Alcantara] as good as he is isn’t getting any younger. So, there’s opportunity for these guys coming through and hopefully Harvey Elliot will be the next one to break in.”

The verdict: Without doubt

If the early weeks of last season are anything to go by, Elliott is in good stead for a starting berth ahead of the likes of Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones and James Milner, such is the £19.8m-valued starlet's regard within the Reds' squad.

Having predominantly operated as a right winger during a flourishing youth career, the Londoner has developed into an attack-minded, right-sided midfielder in Klopp's system and earned a 6.88 Sofascore rating in the role whilst making 1.5 key passes per Premier League outing in 2021/22.

With another pre-season under his belt, the prospect of Elliott - who was billed as a 'star in the making' by journalist Sachin Nakrani - learning from Mohamed Salah and Thiago is a hugely exciting one for the Kop to watch unfold, and it could quickly render the speculation linking Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Jude Bellingham with a move to Liverpool as immaterial.