Liverpool star opens up on Chelsea release for being 'too small'

Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott has revealed that he was released by Chelsea as a child due to his size, leading him to a move to Fulham.

The 21-year-old has established himself as a part of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool first team over the last few seasons. His last appearance against Tottenham saw him score and assist in the 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Elliott has started three of the last four Premier League goals and will be looking to get the shout again when the Reds take on Aston Villa at Villa Park on Monday night. But it all could have been very different for Elliott, if it wasn’t for the decision by Chelsea.

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“So I was at a few clubs when I was younger. I was at Chelsea when I was a kid, and they released me because they said I was too small,” he told The Reds Roundtable.

“And then I was just playing with my friends for a year, like Sunday League, [when I was] 11, 12. I was at Fulham, like a pre-academy thing, like you go sometimes, once a week, twice a week, to train, but I didn’t really enjoy it.

“But then Fulham contacted my father and said ‘look, I hear he hasn’t got a club, does he want to come for a trial?’. Then I went for a trial at Fulham when I was 13 and then [was there] up until 16 when I left.”

Elliott has previously gone more in-depth about his release from Chelsea. “I remember them saying that technically I was one of the best in the group, but I was too small,” he told the We Are Liverpool Podcast last year.

“I don’t think I’ve felt anything like that in my football career so far in terms of how I felt after they said that. Being a young kid knowing you can’t get that opportunity to play or get signed.

“I thought I was finished, and I wasn’t going to have a football career.”

Elliott’s comments come in the week where former striker Michael Owen has named the youngster as a ‘difference maker’ for Liverpool and hinted that new manager Arne Slot should turn to him next season. “It was stunning, wasn’t it? Absolutely stunning,” Owen said after Elliott’s goal against Fulham last weekend.

“It was one of those, as soon as he hits it. He knows that it’s going right into the top corner. A lovely strike. He still has a lot to do, dances past one challenge and then strikes it incredibly well.

“Some of these young players who come in. They are just going to be squad players for the rest of their time. Float in and out of the team.

“However, when he comes on or starts, he makes an impact. Scores goals and provides assists. He has done well during these past few weeks.”