Jason McAteer has ramped up the expectations surrounding Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott by explaining he sees the midfielder as potentially the next Andres Iniesta or Xavi.
Jurgen Klopp's men progressed to the fourth round of the EFL Cup by defeating League One side MK Dons 2-0 on Wednesday, courtesy of goals from James Milner and Ki-Jana Hoever.
The cup tie saw Reds boss Klopp handing youngsters in his ranks the chance to impress and young midfielder Elliott, brought in from Fulham in the summer, was given an opportunity which he took with both hands.
The 16-year-old's potential has impressed former Liverpool man McAteer, who feels that what he saw from the teenager was unbelievable.
McAteer, who played as a midfielder in his playing career, is hugely excited by what he has seen from Elliott and raised the prospect that he could even go on to emulate Barcelona legends Xavi and Iniesta.
"The word is potential. What he is showing at the minute is unbelievable", McAteer said post match on LFC TV.
"I see a potential in him being a kind of an Iniesta or a Xavi, just sitting in midfield."
McAteer also praised Elliott for his distribution and the way he avoids trying sensational passes in favour of keeping possession.
"He sees things, he gives it early, he's got great balance, he's got two good feet, he doesn't look for the Hollywood ball all the time and he just keeps everything ticking over.
"We saw him in this game drift inside and he found himself central quite a lot, and he got it and he popped it off and he wasn't frightened of going over to the left.
"At the minute he is a right-sided and that is how Jurgen sees him, but we might see different ideas for him in the future.
"It's easy for a 16-year-old to be moved about positions.
"He is not set in his ways yet."
Now that he has made his competitive debut for Liverpool, Elliott will be looking to establish himself in Klopp's plans for the season and beyond.
