Harvey Elliott accomplished something incredibly amazing for Liverpool in under 102 minutes.

On Wednesday, Harvey Elliott created a new first in honour of a significant milestone: a League Cup final at Wembley.

Harvey Elliott’s preparation for Sunday’s League Cup final could not be more dissimilar from Liverpool’s previous experience in the championship game.

The midfielder’s comeback from a four-month absence due to a fractured left ankle dislocation occurred two years ago, during such a formative period that he wasn’t included in the matchday squad for the Wembley match against Chelsea.

However, due to Thiago Alcantara’s injury sustained during the warm-up, Naby Keita was moved up to the starting lineup, making room on the bench for Elliott, who came on as a second-half substitute and went on to score a penalty in Liverpool’s shootout victory.

Elliott enters the duel with the Londoners in high spirits this time around. Celebrating his 100th Liverpool appearance against Luton Town in midweek, the 20-year-old became the fourth-youngest Reds player to reach the milestone. He overcame a challenging first half to spearhead the home team’s impressive comeback after the break, which he capped off in the ninetieth minute with his second goal of the year.

Elliott was most likely the reason he was everywhere in the second half. In a single Premier League game, he became the youngest player to score, have five shots, create more than five opportunities (seven), have 10+ touches in the opposition’s box (17), and make more than 25 passes that end in the final third (27). These records have been in place for more than 15 years.

Elliott has given himself every opportunity to start at Wembley, whether he plays on the right flank, as he did against Luton, or on the right of the midfield triumvirate, as he has done more often this season. This is especially true considering the ever-expanding injury list and the fact that he has started all but one of Liverpool’s 13 cup games this season.

Regarding attaining his centenary, he remarks, “It’s just been an amazing journey so far and long may it continue.” “The gaffer and the coaching staff deserve all the credit for believing in me. Simply put, I’m grateful for the chances they’ve given me and want to give it everything I’ve got for them, the squad, and the club.

It’s incredible that I’ve made 100 appearances for my boyhood club, but I don’t want to quit now. I want to continue and reach my career goals of 200 and 300 here.”

If Jurgen Klopp has used the League Cup as an opportunity to give squad players minutes during the season, it appears that this strategy is paying off, as up to ten first-team regulars might be left out at Wembley. After that frustrating first half against Luton, they found a gear that the visitors could not match.

“Obviously, the ones who are there have to step up when a lot of quality is missing because of injury,” says Cody Gakpo, who has scored in each of the League Cup rounds this season and was the source of Liverpool’s second goal. “We always want to do that, but we are at a loss for what to do, especially since they are missing. That is our goal: to continuously challenge one another to maintain a high standard.

Gakpo is among a number of players in the redesigned Liverpool team for whom Sunday will be their first chance to participate in a major final and win trophies for the team.

He comments, “I’m excited about it,” to liverpoolfc.com. “Hopefully, as a team, we can play well and win the game, as well as the season’s first trophy, and then continue on.” In Holland as well as the rest of the world, people talk well of Wembley. Since it will be my first time, I’m intrigued but also determined.”

Three weeks ago, Liverpool defeated the Londoners 4-1 at Anfield after drawing with them at the start of the Premier League season. “Obviously, it would be amazing if we played like that again, but every game is a game in and of itself,” responds Gakpo. We need to go there with a laser-like intensity, work as a cohesive unit, maintain the confidence we gained on Wednesday, and make it an incredible game.