InterviewHarvey Elliott: The final is in the past - we're all focused on Norwich
Harvey Elliott detailed the hunger running deep throughout the Liverpool squad to lift more trophies this season after their Carabao Cup success.
The Reds have turned their focus towards another competition as they welcome Norwich City to Anfield in the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup on Wednesday night.
The celebrations from the Wembley triumph over Chelsea on Sunday are over, with Jürgen Klopp's side still in the running for three more honours in 2021-22.
Liverpoolfc.com caught up with Elliott ahead of the Norwich tie – read on to see what he had to say about the League Cup success and the squad's ambitions...
Harvey, how are the emotions after a really good evening on Sunday?
The emotions are very high. Obviously it was a tough game and I think it was a great game for everyone to watch all around the world. To come away with the win and another trophy, it's always good to get silverware.
What was it like to play in your first major final with this club? You weren't even meant to be on the bench until Thiago's unfortunate injury...
It all happened so quick, to be honest. But that's the thing with football, you never know what's going to come around the corner. You always need to be well prepared, even if emotions were running low because you weren't in the squad for whatever reason. Like I said, you always need to be prepared and if you're called upon, you need to have the right mentality, the right focus to go on and not let what's happened before affect you and the way you perform and just focus on everything in the moment. It was a crazy day. But to come away with the win is the most important thing.
We saw how made up you all were in the dressing room afterwards – how much of a boost can it be for the rest of the season? You'll want that feeling again...
It was a big boost, even before winning the game, to get into a final. It's always a big accomplishment and it's all credit to everyone who's played a part to get the team to the final. Once we had that feeling, we all said to each other that we want more of it. We were all saying, 'Three more to go. Let's get there.' I'm sure we'll put up a massive fight to get to those finals and situations in the Premier League. At the end of the day, it's down to us. We need to work hard, we need to fight for these wins and we need to fight as a team to make sure the fans can get more experiences like this – especially with COVID in the past couple of years and not celebrating with the fans when we won the Premier League. That's something we're wanting to do again, wanting to experience these times with the fans and with everyone in Liverpool.
Behind the scenes of Liverpool's Carabao Cup triumph
How quickly did the celebrations end and focus turn towards this Norwich game? It's been a pretty quick turnaround...
We enjoyed the moment. Obviously we worked hard to get to that moment and to win it. With the fans as well, we enjoyed it a bit more because it was our first trophy in a while, since having fans back. Even around England, I saw loads of videos of fans in Liverpool celebrating and stuff. We celebrated a lot, which we deserved to do. But as soon as we got on that coach and on the plane home, the focus was on Wednesday. Even today, we're not talking about the final anymore because it's in the past. All focus is on Wednesday because it's another massive game, another game that will push us into the right direction, to another final hopefully.
You enjoyed a successful return in the previous round against Cardiff City. There's been three more appearances since then. How would you assess your return so far?
It's been good. Some performances haven't been up to my standards yet but I always knew it would take time to get back into the swing of things. Liverpool have managed me and not rushed me back in, which in the long run is going to do me a lot of favours. I'm just so happy to be back. I've missed the feeling of walking out to Liverpool fans cheering and putting the red kit on. It was a long five months but to be back now, it's all in the past and I feel stronger, I feel better. I'm excited to see what comes next.
Are you excited to get back to Anfield after the weekend? You're up against a Norwich side who gave you a really tough game in the league not long ago...
Especially being under the lights as well, a late kick-off. The fans are going to be very excited and energetic after this win. To be back and playing in front of the Liverpool fans again, we're going to need them once more. Norwich caused us a few problems in the last game. We went 1-0 down to them, so you can see that there's a threat there. We're full of confidence at the moment, I'm sure we can put it right this game and cut out all the little mistakes that we had in the last game and hopefully come away with a win, as well as a clean sheet.
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