'Living the dream' - Harvey Elliott namechecks two Man…

'Living the dream' - Harvey Elliott namechecks two Man United players after stunning Liverpool win

Harvey Elliott insists he was relishing the challenge of starring for Liverpool against a star-studded Manchester United before Jurgen Klopp's men recorded a historic 7-0 win on Sunday.

The 19-year-old was named in the midfield alongside captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho and turned in an outstanding performance to help Klopp's team secure the club's biggest-ever victory against their fierce rivals.

Elliott's selection was viewed as a massive show of faith from the manager when the team news dropped an hour before kick-off at Anfield and Klopp's trust was rewarded as the teenager shone alongside his more experienced colleagues in the engine room.

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The former Fulham youngster, who claimed an assist for Darwin Nunez's first goal, says he felt no nerves about starting the game and instead viewed it as a challenge to get the better of players like the decorated Casemiro, who won five Champions League trophies during his time with Real Madrid before his August move to Old Trafford.

Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo each scored two each before Roberto Firmino added a seventh from the substitutes' bench in a win that will be spoken about for decades at Anfield.

"Each and every game you play, that's how it feels [like I’m living a dream]," Elliott said. "I step on to the pitch here or at the training ground, I put the kit on and play. I live the dream each and every day.

"But at the same time, you have to keep professional. You can’t get too overwhelmed by the situation. You have to stay focused and that’s what I try to do. You get the buzz and the excitement when the games are over. It’s about staying professional and trying to influence the games when I play.

"I wouldn’t say I had nerves. Nerves are probably the last thing I had. This is my job. I’d more say it was a nice challenge. You are coming up against players such as Casemiro and Raphael Varane, players who have been in so many big games and won so many trophies.

"It’s always a challenge and I try to take the most out of every game I can. The different situations you find yourself in…Personally, it’s the mistakes I look back on. That’s what I concentrate on and how I can improve when I go into the next game.

"It’s nothing to do with being nervous. I’m grateful for every opportunity and I’ll keep grasping it with both hands. I just want the best for myself and I want the best for the team."

Elliott was converted into a central midfielder at the start of last season by Klopp, having initially shot to prominence as a right-sided attacker and the versatile teen admits he is working on adding more goals to his game from his current role for the Reds.

He added: "I want to influence the game and I want to see the team win. I do get frustrated with myself when I can’t do that. I hate it when I miss chances. I should be scoring but I don’t. That’s my only frustration.

"All these other things will come in the future. I’m learning every day and I couldn’t wish to learn from a better manager. The team around me – the players, the coaching staff. There is no better place to be. I’m taking everything on board every day and putting it into my game. I look at my mistakes to ensure they don’t happen again and that’s why I will keep going forward."

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