Jurgen Klopp has spoken highly about Harvey Elliott throughout the summer and has handed the youngster his first Premier League start for Liverpool.
The Reds will play Burnley at Anfield this lunchtime and the teenager will be part of a three-man midfield that features the returning Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita.
Elliott spent last season on loan at Blackburn Rovers, where he was among their most impressive performers.
He has long been tipped for the top and Klopp suggested that the former Fulham man was ready to make a "big step" this term.
“We have obviously a new midfielder in our squad with Harvey Elliott," the German said previously. "We have players who can make a big step to fulfil their potential, they are in a good way. That’s how it is.”
There is plenty of competition for places in the Liverpool starting XI and Elliott has previously been used in the front three.
But now he will get the chance to showcase his qualities in the middle of the park with Klopp revealing that the 18-year-old has been doing his utmost to learn off the senior pros as he gears up for more first team involvement.
He said: “That’s always like this, each young player is doing that and should do that probably – but only to a specific extent because most of these players were not in the same place like Harvey is in that age.
“It’s different, that’s what I want to say. But what is really nice about the story is that we created really an atmosphere where the boys care about each other as well, they really want to help each other.
“Everybody wants the group to be in the best shape, maybe that’s the example more for that story. I like it a lot. It could happen with Millie constantly that somebody takes something from him.
“That’s this team, that’s us and I really like it a lot. Harvey made a step, I have to say. He looks in a proper shape, really, really fit. He came back in a good shape and is here now in full training obviously.
“You can see last year really worked well for him. Now let’s make the next steps together.”
Elliott will be looking to feed Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota in attack.
Behind him Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip will be at the heart of defence with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas either side of them.
Liverpool will play in front of a packed Anfield for the first time in 18 months today, seeking revenge on the Clarets, who ended their long unbeaten home run last term.
