Harvey Elliott has admitted he is aware of criticism he continues to receive for his Liverpool scoring record - because his own father is actually his biggest critic.
The 20-year-old is yet to score for the Reds this season, while he claimed his first, and so far only, assist of the campaign when crossing for Luis Diaz to equalise against Luton Town earlier this month. Registering six goals and four assists from 82 appearances for Liverpool, Elliott has only scored once and set up three in the Premier League.
In contrast, he now boasts six goals and four assists for England Under-21s from 18 caps after his match-winning brace in the young Lions’ 3-0 victory over Northern Ireland at Goodison Park on Tuesday night.
READ MORE: Harvey Elliott booed by Goodison Park after scoring - but Liverpool man's response was perfect
Five of those goals have come in qualifying for the 2025 European Under-21 Championship, with the Reds midfielder the joint second-leading goalscorer across qualification behind Germany and Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko.
READ MORE: Harvey Elliott booed by Goodison Park after scoring - but Liverpool man's response was perfect
Meanwhile, as a member of the England Under-21s squad that won this summer’s Euros in Romania and Georgia, he boasts six goals and two assists from his last six starts for the young Lions.
Admitting he needs to be more prolific for Liverpool, Elliott revealed he’s determined to replicate his international form back at club-level.
“Is it five? (Pauses) Yeah, it is (Laughs). I just needed to make sure. Yeah, it’s five,” he told reporters after his brace against Northern Ireland when reflecting on his recent scoring run for England. “Yeah, definitely (I’m looking to score more goals for Liverpool).
“It is something I get criticised on, especially at Liverpool and it is something I need to do more of at Liverpool, score and create goals, especially in that advanced role which I play.
“I'm full of confidence now and I just need to take it into Liverpool. I'm going to get limited chances in front of goal and I just need to make sure I take them like I did today (vs Northern Ireland).
“My main focus (for my second goal) was just trying to get a clean connection. I looked up and saw the keeper coming out. For me the only possibility of scoring was to chip him.
“It is something I do in training and I've scored like that before. It comes natural for me and I just needed to make sure that I got a clean connection. Once one goes in for me, the ball starts to roll and I just keep on going and going.”
He continued: “It's more my dad (criticising my scoring record) to be honest! Social media is social media, it can turn quickly. Everyone can love you and everyone can hate you in a matter of minutes.
“For me, I don't really focus on it too much. I just listen to the important people around me, like my family, the coaches and the players as well who are all trying to help me out. It is more my dad who criticises me a lot.
“There is always something I could have done a lot better, he is always trying to push me as hard as he can which is why he's a great dad. He always wants the best for me. I just need to listen to the people who are important to me and keep learning off them.
“I've had a few chances for Liverpool this season that I should have scored but these things happen. I just need to take my confidence now into the next games. It is going to be a lot harder to get opportunities. But I'm full of confidence now and need to take them.”
One way Elliott could boost his scoring record is by taking free-kicks for Liverpool, with his first goal against Northern Ireland a spectacular curling effort from 25 yards. While he concedes he is way down the pecking order at Anfield, and doesn’t practise such set-pieces much as a result, he revealed he plans to ask for more opportunities to take them back with the Reds off the back of his latest strike.
“None, maybe one a week?” he replied when asked how often he practises free-kicks in training. “I don't really take them at Liverpool. So now and then I practise but it's kind of more when I'm away with England because I have more of a responsibility on set-pieces.
“I know it's very hard (to get an opportunity ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold). And on top of that Dom Szoboszlai as well.
“Maybe I'm in the pecking order, I'm not too sure, but I'm certainly going to be asking the question now.”
While Elliott remains a squad player at Liverpool, he has emerged as first-choice for Lee Carsley after England's European Under-21 Championship win. Yet he is tasked with a slightly different role on the international stage.
Under Jurgen Klopp, Elliott predominantly plays on the right of a midfield three, ahead of a single pivot. Yet under Carsley he is being utilised as a number 10 in front of a double pivot, while also being granted a free role that enables him to roam the pitch.
“Yeah, but there is a lot of responsibility for myself as well because I can find these spaces but defensively I can't be the one who lets the team down,” he said about the difference in his positions for club and country. “In a way, it’s a lot harder for me defensively because I’ve always got to get back into position and help my strikers.
“For me, it’s just be responsible, find these spaces, and on the ball do my thing. But defensively, I need to be switched on and get straight back into position.”
Elliott was booed by some fans at Goodison Park on Tuesday, both when his name was read out before kick-off and he was confirmed as goalscorer for each of his goals.
He admitted that, as a Liverpool player playing at Everton’s home ground, he was not surprised by such a reception. And left unfazed by it, he is already turning his attention to the Reds’ trip to Manchester City on Saturday as he looks to build on an impressive international break.
“I don't really listen to it to be honest, but it's expected,” he laughed. “The support here for us is unbelievable. In the under-21s, wherever we go, it’s amazing.
“Especially on cold nights like tonight. Goodison Park is an historic stadium. We were all excited to come here and play.
“If there were boos, I understand it. It is all part of football. I’m just happy to get the win, most importantly, and take it into the weekend now.”
