Jurgen Klopp 's pre-season experiment may well have backfired but it did shed light on Liverpool 's midfield plan for next season.
The Reds were comfortably cast aside by Manchester United in their off-season opener in Thailand on Tuesday, shipping four goals without reply. While the result saw Erik ten Hag get his United tenure off to the perfect start, it will no doubt have left Klopp with more questions than answers.
Though it was indeed "quite freaky", to quote Klopp, that Liverpool didn't manage to get themselves on the scoresheet, in truth, the Reds were out-pressed and out-played for much of the pre-season proceedings in the 2022 Bangkok Century Cup contest by age-old rivals United. On the face of it, there were in fact very few positives to take from the fairly meaningless friendly, but Klopp's midfield intentions did become a little clearer.
Coming into the summer transfer window, it was no secret that Liverpool were keen to acquire a young and dynamic midfielder, capable of dominating in the centre of the park, having failed to recruit Georgino Wijnaldum's replacement last year. The Reds made a move for Monaco maestro Aurelien Tchouameni, however, ended up failing on that front.
Not only did Real Madrid edge Klopp's side out in the Champions League final in late May, but they rubbed salt into red wounds by also pipping them to the Frenchman's signature. Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham is another understood to be high up on Liverpool's wanted list, but it has become abundantly clear the talented teenager won't be on the move this summer.
As a result, Klopp is thought to have once again postponed plans to sign a new midfield star for another 12 months, but that hasn't prevented him from openly expressing his admiration for the emerging England international. Klopp recently confessed: “He’s not on the market, so that’s the first problem with that player. Well, the only problem with that player!”
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Having seemingly failed to fill the midfield void in this window, the Reds boss has been left to think up alternatives. And on Tuesday, in Bangkok's eye-catching Rajamangala National Stadium, hints were dropped over the back-up plan of next season.
A total of 32 players were deployed by the German against United, with the 10 outfielders being rotated at 30-minute intervals, but one stood out above the rest. His name? Harvey Elliott.
The 19-year-old, who has switched the 67 shirt for one which reflects his age, put in the most encouraging performance from a Reds perspective, in a display which ultimately saw last season's domestic cup double winners struggle to deal with the challenges posed by United. Intent on ensuring the injuries which hampered his campaign last time out are a thing of the past, Elliott dazzled at times on Tuesday, and his bristling confidence and innovation proved to be one of few facets to Liverpool's game which United struggled to contain.
While Klopp was mildly concerned by some of the Reds' decision-making, particularly in midfield, he picked out Elliott for praise and hinted that the attacker will have a prominent role to play next season. He noted: “I saw a lot of good performances in moments, but no consistency.
"Sometimes we were in a rush, the way United defended in a man-marking system, especially in midfield, we gave the ball away and they finished the moments off, that was obvious. The way United is playing with this man-marking idea you need more flexibility, when Harvey [Elliott] came in the middle we were more dangerous."
The effervescent Elliott does indeed provide Klopp with a flexible option in midfield, who is evidently unfazed by whatever comes his way. Having failed to capture a commanding midfielder this summer, it seems Liverpool may indeed need to call upon the youngster more next season - and in more important matches that this. While the Reds may well have preferred the midfield responsibility to fall on the shoulders of a more high-profile name next campaign, it looks as thought Elliott will emerge as the alternative and trusted option in the centre of the park.
