PreviewHarvey Elliott: We know we have to go out and put things right
Harvey Elliott says Liverpool are determined to make amends when they return to Anfield to begin the last three games of the Premier League season against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The Reds enter the fixture knowing Champions League qualification for next year has been secured, with Jürgen Klopp’s side now guaranteed a top-four finish.
However, Elliott acknowledged the past few weeks have been disappointing, with defeats against Crystal Palace and Everton disrupting their Premier League title challenge, alongside a quarter-final loss to Atalanta seeing them exit the Europa League.
And the midfielder insists there will be no shortage of motivation within Klopp’s squad to ensure the campaign ends in a positive manner.
Elliott told Liverpoolfc.com: “The last couple of weeks haven’t gone the way we wanted them to, but unfortunately that’s part of football.
“We haven’t been good enough, we haven’t made our chances count. We’ve reflected on it, we’ve studied it and we all know as a team that we need to go out now and put it right – not only for us, but for the fans, for the gaffer and for everyone else.
“Our performances haven’t been the best and I feel like this weekend is a great opportunity, especially at home [because] it’s been a long time since we had a home game.”
He continued: “We just need to finish strong now. We all know that the past couple of weeks haven’t been our best, but now there are a few games left, a few opportunities to go out and put things right.
“We want to go into the summer on a win, giving it everything we can. We just need to focus on these next three games, make sure we get the wins and then in the summer we can reflect, refresh and then go again.”
A victory this weekend would clinch at least third place in the Premier League for Liverpool this season, having finished fifth last term.
Reflecting on the progress the Reds have made in this campaign – which also included Carabao Cup success in February – Elliott said: “We have won a trophy, qualified for the Champions League.
“There are positives throughout the season, [such as] so many young lads getting opportunities and playing really, really well, which for us as older players is really nice to see.
“It’s not gone the way we wanted towards the end of the season, but we can look at the season as a whole and be proud of where we are, especially with the circumstances, the rebuild.
“It’s never easy, but I think the way the squad has handled it has been amazing.”
Elliott also believes that the experience gained and lessons learned from this season will stand the group in good stead for the coming years.
“[Now] it comes down to mentality and that hunger to go again,” said the No.19.
“And when it comes to the [same] situation, we know how it feels and it’s about making sure it never happens again, learning from our mistakes, from the difficulties of the last few weeks.
“This is a young squad and hopefully many players will still be around in the future, so if it comes around again we can put it right and not let it slip.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s clash, Elliott expects a tough contest against Ange Postecoglou’s team, but hopes home advantage will play its part.
“Spurs are a very good team and have unbelievable players,” Elliott said. “They always give us a tough game, but it’s another great opportunity to go out and, now more than ever, try to put it right.
“It’s been a long time since we played at home, to finally have our fans behind us for the whole game, so hopefully we can go out and show them, prove to ourselves that we can get the result we want.”
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