Michael Owen 'astounded' by Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and praises Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool wonderkid Harvey Elliott was handed his first Champions League start at the San Siro on Wednesday night as the Reds faced Inter Milan, and ex-Liverpool star Michael Owen believes the youngster thoroughly deserved his chance.

Elliott burst into the Liverpool first-team earlier this season after returning from his loan spell at Blackburn last summer.

But a horrific ankle injury forced him into a lengthy spell on the sidelines as he recovered.

The 18-year-old made his return to the first-team earlier this month from the bench, and has now been given his first start since the injury.

The stage couldn't be bigger, either, as the Reds face Serie A champions Inter Milan at the San Siro after making history by becoming the first English team to win all six group stage matches in the Champions League.

In doing so, Elliott became Liverpool's youngest-ever Champions League starter, beating the record set by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who appeared against Spartak Moscow in 2017 aged 18 years and 354 days, by 36 days.

And Owen couldn't hold back when talking about the young playmaker before the game, saying he was "astounded" at the way he's burst onto the scene.

Owen, who too played for Liverpool as a teenager, was complimentary of Klopp for bringing him into the fold, saying it was the perfect gesture of faith.

"It's brilliant, and considering what he's gone through as well... He obviously came into the side and made a huge first impression," Owen said.

"Then he had the real cruel fortune of getting a huge injury. I'm absolutely astounded he's come back so quick, looking so sharp still.

"I think this is the biggest vote of confidence, to be put straight back in it in this size of game, away in the Champions League.. it's a huge vote of confidence. Nothing more than he deserves, he's obviously worked very, very hard since he was injured to get back."

Klopp, speaking before kick-off, insisted Elliott had deserved his chance at Champions League football, but joked that if everything went wrong he would take full responsibility.

Elliott hadn't played a minute of Champions League football before Wednesday night due to his injury woes, but was seen on the pitch after Liverpool's historic qualification campaign came to an end.

And it seems Klopp had already started to plan for the knockout rounds even then, as he admitted to BT Sport that he had told the youngster he'd be involved when they got into the next stage of the competition.

"Yeah, when we qualified finally, I'm not too sure which game it was, I met with Harvey on the pitch that night and told him 'look, now you'll play Champions League when you're back'.

"We shouldn't wait too long. The boy is in a good shape, he's in a good moment football-wise. He's exactly the type of player we need tonight. He's old enough, no pressure on his shoulders, it's just an opportunity.

"Let's see how long it goes. If it all goes well, it's up to him. If it all goes wrong, it's all my fault."