An EFL Cup Quarter-Final clash is on the horizon this Wednesday as Liverpool visit Southampton. In the midst of this pre-match storm, Liverpool's rising star, Javi Elliott, has spoken out via Liverpool's official website, sharing his eagerness for the upcoming match as well as his genuine opinion of the team.
Since returning from international duty in November, Elliott has overcome his injury to return to action and has been named in Liverpool's squad for every consecutive game. Despite suffering an ankle pain in early September, he is now making a steady recovery and has come on as a substitute in the last two matches, with Elliott expected to make his first start of the season for Liverpool in this EFL Cup fixture.
Talking about his personal status, Elliott is confident: "I firmly believe that I am ready, my body feels great, and my form is in full swing. It's been a long road to recovery, but the coaching staff and the manager have seen my progress. I think they were wise to let me gradually integrate into the game instead of rushing me on, and it helped me tremendously."
Reflecting on last weekend's game, Elliott said, "Even though the result was unsatisfactory, a draw is better than a loss. We are going to turn this setback into motivation and look forward to showing more positivity and striving for a win in our next game."
Speaking about game time, Elliott said, "There is a difference between game fitness and general fitness, and I am working on improving myself through game time. I'm sure I'll get more chances to play and just need to work harder in training to prove I'm ready for the challenge."
Speaking about his pre-season performance and his mindset after the injury, Elliott confessed, "I did okay in pre-season, but then unfortunately got injured. I'm not going to rush to make up for lost time because it would make me lose myself. The most important thing for me is to enjoy soccer again and not put too much pressure on myself. I just want to put the shirt on again, get out on the pitch and try to show the best I can."
Speaking about his role in the team, Elliott said, "I enjoy my role as the 'big brother' of the team. I know how they feel and know that they are calm on the outside but nervous on the inside. I want to let them know that I and the rest of my teammates will be there for them whenever they need us."
Facing the upcoming Southampton, Elliott said, "We have to stick to our style of play and execute the game plan. Although it may be different, I don't think we need to change the way we prepare for the game. We need to focus on the game and execute the training. Hopefully, we will end up with a positive result."
Speaking about the EFL Cup win, Elliott said, "We are eager to relive the great experience of last season. It's a big club and everyone expects us to compete for every trophy. We're going to give it our all and take it one game at a time."
Elliott's positive attitude and desire to play has certainly instilled confidence in Liverpool fans. Expect him to play well in this game and contribute to Liverpool's victory.
