James Milner says Liverpool have a ‘top’ 18-year-old in their ranks

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Liverpool star James Milner has waxed lyrical about Reds teammate Harvey Elliott.

The 18-year-old arrived at Anfield to much fanfare in 2019 and he’s been steadily improving since.

Elliott has already impressed for the Reds senior team, clocking up nine appearances and looking bright.

But last season was when the attacking prodigy really showed what he was made of, on loan at Blackburn.

Elliott racked up 41 games in the Championship for Rovers, providing seven goals and 11 assists.

He dazzled Rovers, Liverpool and neutral fans alike, and earned a nomination for the EFL’s Young Player of the Season award.

Liverpool have since rewarded Elliott with a new long-term contract at Anfield just last month.

Jurgen Klopp has also been giving the former Fulham ace game time in pre-season.

And Milner says he’s been impressed with what he’s seen from Elliott in Austria and France.

“He’s a top player, I saw it the first time I trained with him,” he told the Liverpool media team.

“You could recognise how good he was, comfortable on the ball, good vision and a dribbler.

“It’s tough for him as well, coming back in after being away last season and getting back to how we play and it’s a different style to how most other teams play.

“I thought he’s had a good pre-season up to now and obviously the more minutes he gets in and around the boys in these games, the closer he will be.”

Liverpool wrap up their pre-season programme with games against Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna on Sunday and Monday.

The Reds then get their Premier League season underway at Norwich next Saturday.