It is no exaggeration to say that playing for Liverpool, particularly Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool, is a dream that millions of football fans aspire to achieve in their lifetime.
Harvey Elliott is only 19 years old and already fulfilling his dream.
A childhood Red, the teenager has now made 58 appearances for his boyhood club at the time of writing, the most recent coming in his excellent display against Manchester United, which saw Klopp’s side hand United their heaviest defeat in club history, with Elliott playing a significant role.
Despite the responsibilities placed on his shoulders as a young player, the Chertsey native is unfazed by outside pressure. “I don’t actually think about it, to be honest,” says Elliott, who is reclining with his arms crossed in both directions on the navy living room sofa in the local Airbnb where we’re meeting, emphasizing his laid-back demeanor.
“You’re so in the moment, trying to give it your all and work as hard as you can, you don’t really have the time to think of these things, but when you reflect and you actually think and take things into consideration, it’s a crazy life at such a young age,” he says. “I’m enjoying every bit of it and loving every moment.”
Harvey Elliott wears a New Balance NB Essentials Coaches Jacket. Kieran Clarke took the photographs.
Since the victory over United, many in the media, notably Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, have acknowledged the strain of playing as an opposing player at Anfield. The overall opinion from those meetings is that any display of weakness will be punished by both the Liverpool players and the Anfield supporters. This is something Elliott concurs with.
“I think you just need to be there to understand it,” he says of the atmosphere at Anfield, which has contributed to countless memorable nights during Klopp’s tenure alone.
“You need to see it for yourself. It’s truly unique. Everyone knows Liverpool fans are the finest in the world, so the atmosphere is always going to be crazy from the start, and that’s exactly what I’ve witnessed.”
While Elliott’s prowess with the ball at his feet is apparent, he is also part of a new wave of ballers who are expressing a different side of themselves through their love in fashion. Though the rise of football x fashion continues to reach new heights and generate significant attention from young football fans online, it is not without its critics, who believe athletes should focus solely on football.
Harvey Elliott wears New Balance 2002R Protection Pack Pink sneakers. Kieran Clarke took the photographs.
“People think we’re like machines, you know. We simply play football, that’s all,” the Liverpool midfielder said of the criticism leveled at himself and his teammates. “Some people may not like it, some people may think it’s wrong but at the end of the day, everyone is human.”
“If someone else was doing it, no one would say anything, but when it’s a player, people claim we’re not focused enough or are distracted by something else. It’s our life, and all we want to do is express ourselves and enjoy it.”
This idea played a significant role in Elliott’s decision to join New Balance in 2021 as an 18-year-old. The Boston-born company has been making headlines in the football world since its inception in recent years, leveraging an ever-growing roster of talents such as Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Sadio Mané (Bayern Munich), Timothy Weah (Lille), and Elliott himself to reach Gen-Z audiences. Furthermore, the brand has promoted players’ self-expression both on and off the pitch, whilst others have limited their interactions with players to performance-related activations.
While competition companies have become unduly comfortable in recent years, Elliott believes this has only benefited New Balance in developing a new way to marketing today’s football superstars. “I feel like New Balance is different to other brands right now,” he says, wearing an all-black tracksuit with the NB emblem.
Harvey Elliott wears and holds New Balance 550 sneakers. Shane Bain took the photographs.
“There is a story behind it, as well as a brand philosophy. I believe they are on a road that other companies will be unable to compete with, which is why people are gravitating toward the New Balance wave. Some previously popular brands are losing their concepts, whereas New Balance continues to innovate.”
Elliott is equally pleased about his experience since joining the New Balance family, saying, “It’s been wonderful. New Balance has always been an excellent brand for me. They’ve helped me in so many situations and given me so many opportunities, which I’ll be eternally grateful for. It’s great to be a part of the family, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future brings.
Elliott, like many players before him, notably fellow New Balance athlete Weah, believes that self-expression off the field improves athletic performance, a point that many critics are content to disregard. “I go by if you feel good, you play good, which is something I always take into consideration,” he says.
“For me, fashion is about enjoying it. You work hard, and at the end of the day, you should reward yourself. I don’t mind putting on a few garments here and there, but I won’t overdo it. I’ll publish something and then erase it a few months later, but if it’s a day out, for dinner or something, I don’t pass up the opportunity [to drip].”
A new wave baller from New Balance. Shane Bain took the photographs.
Elliott’s desire to distinguish out from others around him has always been evident, from hairstyles dating back to his Fulham days to massive fits as a Premier League regular. While many agree that their fashion inspiration originates from outside sources, Elliott’s self-confidence allows him to draw inspiration from within in his quest to be distinctive in the fashion world.
“I think my inspiration comes from myself, to be honest,” the 19-year-old admits. “It’s the same with the way I play, I want to be different to other people, I want to express myself by doing different things and wearing different things.”
“I believe that more and more people are experimenting with different ways of expressing themselves and dressing. If you look at the NBA, for example, there are so many wild ideas and costumes out there, therefore I believe the NBA has a significant influence on the world in terms of design because they play on a global scale.”
“It’s different in football, we wear the club tracksuits and we’re not allowed to wear our own clothes yet but it’s just about being different and expressing myself.”
Harvey Elliott is in Liverpool. Shane Bain took the photographs.
While the NBA continues to reign supreme in terms of stylish athletes, football is gradually but steadily making a case for itself as a sport with the best-dressed players. From Moise Kean to Jules Koundé, the game now has distinct off-court personas that reflect figures found in American society dating back to the days of Allen Iverson, whose insistence on being himself led to the NBA instituting a dress code in 2005.
“There’s a few ballers who really think about it, and fair play to them because some of them look good,” Elliott says of players’ growing interest in fashion. “I think Joe Willock is a great influence. Elliott credits Héctor Bellerín, a pioneer in the football-fashion niche, as a crucial influence.
“He’s still crushing it, too. I believe it all depends on what you choose. Someone may wear something that one group dislikes but another enjoys, thus it all relies on personal preferences. There are a few ballers who stick out.
Music is becoming an increasing interest among ballers, with artists like Memphis Depay, Rafael Leão, and Alphonso Davies exhibiting their lyrical skills to fans, similar to their passion for fashion. For the time being, Elliott is content to listen to music exclusively. “I can hop on the aux, sure! What about the microphone? “Not so much,” he says, laughing.
Harvey Elliott wears a New Balance NB AT Spinnex Vest. Shane Bain took the photographs.
I react by asking for one of the ballers he won’t let on the aux. Elliott brightens as he realizes the answer. “This is a tough question because I don’t want to ruin any friendships, to be honest,” he said with a giggle. “I feel like I just need to say this, though, because I believe a few people are thinking it,” he continues, beaming again.
“On the way to games, Adrián has the speaker on the bus and he has these mad remixes which ruin the actual song,” Elliott adds of the Liverpool shot-stopper. “Fair play to him for continuing to give it his all in each game. Regardless of what anyone says, he always plays it, so you have to give him credit, but he’s absolutely the easiest to say.”
While Adrián’s remixes are unlikely to appear at the top of Elliott’s Spotify playlist this year, Travis Scott and Lil Baby, like many other ballers his age, will. “My music taste is strange; I might swing from like some musicians to disliking them and so on. Elliott acknowledges, “I can name one artist this month, and another in a few months time.”
“I suppose my favorite right now is Travis Scott. Travis is someone I’ve always listened to and can’t get enough of. I’ve been a fan of Playboi Carti for a few years now, and he’s another artist I’ll continue to listen to.
