A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Steven Gerrard plots a raid on Anfield and Luis Suarez gives his support to an under-fire Reds star following his recent struggles.
Ben Foster backs Harvey Elliott to ‘come into his own’ at Liverpool next season
Ben Foster has now tipped Harvey Elliott to ‘come into his own’ at Liverpool next season. He firmly believes the midfielder has more to offer the Anfield club after impressing in their 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday by scoring the Reds’ last goal.
It was just the fourth goal that Elliott has scored through his 51 appearances so far this term. The 21-year-old has also offered nine assists but just four, plus three of his goals, have come during the midfielder’s 32 Premier League outings that have also yielded just 1,178 minutes.
Jurgen Klopp has seldom trusted Elliott with playing a key role in Liverpool’s Premier League title bid. He has started the England U21 talent just nine times, despite Elliott featuring in all 36 of their squads. But Foster believes Elliott will produce more under Klopp’s replacement.
“Harvey Elliott’s performance, I was doubly impressed with Harvey Elliott at the weekend,” Foster said on his YouTube channel. “I think next season he could really come into his own.”
Read more about what Foster has had to say about Liverpool’s Elliott, here.
Luis Suarez urges Darwin Nunez to ‘always’ be positive amid his struggles
Reds hero Luis Suarez has sent Darwin Nunez a message of support amid the criticism fired at the Liverpool striker. The 24-year-old has come under fire in recent weeks for his ongoing struggles. Nunez has now failed to score in his last six appearances in the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp even benched Nunez for Liverpool’s last two fixtures against West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur. He had recalled the Uruguayan in the Merseyside derby but did not see enough from the striker as Everton dealt the Reds a 2-0 defeat to justify retaining a role.
Jermain Defoe is among the pundits to criticise Nunez amid his barren spell. The ex-England striker felt Nunez was ‘wrong’ to try and chip Guglielmo Vicario as Liverpool beat Tottenham 4-2. Michael Owen also tore into Nunez’s display at Everton which made his ‘brain explode’.
But Suarez has urged Nunez to be positive and look forward in a message of support for his fellow Uruguayan. Suarez knows what it takes to perform as Liverpool’s centre-forward after scoring 82 goals in 133 games. Nunez has so far scored 33 goals in 94 outings for Liverpool.
“Thank you scorer for always being there,” Suarez messaged Nunez on X. “Always remember [to be] positive and looking forward!”
Read more about what Suarez has told Liverpool forward Nunez, here.
Steven Gerrard wants Liverpool coach John Achterberg to join Al-Ettifaq
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard now wants John Achterberg to join his coaching staff at the Saudi Arabian side, Al-Ettifaq. That is according to the Mirror, which reports that Achterberg is due to head to the Middle East this summer after confirming his decision to leave Anfield.
Achterberg has spent 15 years at Anfield but will leave Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp opted to step down as their manager. Rafa Benitez first brought the goalkeeper coach to Anfield back in 2009. The 52-year-old first worked in their academy before joining the senior fold in 2011.
Klopp has relied heavily on Achterberg’s experience, with the former Tranmere Rovers shot-stopper also behind Liverpool identifying Alisson Becker as a target. Now, Gerrard has given the Dutchman an offer to join him at El-Ettifaq that Achterberg is set to take up this summer.
Read more about Gerrard’s interest in Achterberg joining him at Al-Ettifaq, here.