Harvey Elliott insists he is ready to take his game to the next level as he eyes Euro 2024. The Liverpool midfielder captained England Under-21s for the first time on Monday, leading the Young Lions as they slipped to a late 3-2 defeat to Ukraine in Slovakia. He returns to domestic action this weekend, looking to force his way into the Liverpool line-up for Saturday’s Merseyside derby with Everton. Despite a frustrating lack of starts for the Reds this term, Euro 2024 remains a real goal for Elliott, after England’s 3-1 win over Italy on Tuesday booked their place in Germany, and he is primed to take his chance. He said: “Absolutely, I’ve felt ready for a while now. It’s just about making sure I keep applying myself to be the best possible player and person I can be. “It’s a nice goal to reach and aim towards. The tunnel vision is there, it’s taking it game-by-game, and if the opportunity comes I’ll be the happiest kid in the world. “The Under-21s is my main focus, make sure I’m applying myself and being the best possible person and player for myself. “If you’re not doing that there’s no change. You have to do the basics right, set a good example, and if the opportunity comes it comes. If not, you have to keep working and, hopefully, one day it will come.” Elliott has started just once in the Premier League this term but came off at half time in the 2-2 draw at Brighton just before the international break. Jurgen Klopp’s summer midfield refresh has seen Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Naby Keita and Fabinho leave Liverpool, with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch joining. The competition has restricted Elliott to 164 minutes in the Premier League and he is under no illusions about the challenge at Anfield. He said: “I’m just trying to take everything from Hendo and Milner, big characters in the dressing room who have left. I’m not trying to be the next Hendo or Milly but be the best version of myself and the leader I’ve learned to be off them. “I always knew the season was going to be like this. Liverpool, being a world-class team, are always going to attract unbelievable players and that’s exactly what they’ve done. “It’s healthy competition. Not everyone is guaranteed to play, and when you get your chance you have to make sure you take it. The quality is there, it’s about applying it on the pitch. “I feel I can do a job wherever I’m put. The most important thing is putting that red shirt on and playing. I’m working as hard as I can to get into the team. “It’s down to me to make sure I apply myself and not only show the boss but show the world I’m good enough to play wherever I’m put.” The former Fulham youngster also cherishes his relationship with Mo Salah as he learns off the forward. “He’s always helping me out. We have a great relationship when we play. Off the pitch we’re always talking and I’m always trying to learn off him,” said Elliott. “For me to look up to him, he’s the best possible player. As well as play with him, I’m trying to be as good as him, if that’s possible. “He’s a great guy and an unbelievable player. To look up to him and everyone else in the team is great, I’m grateful to be playing with these guys.” Read More This is a special game – Maro Itoje confident England can defeat South Africa Leah Paul helps Ireland seal convincing win over Scotland to level ODI series Premier League looking at club wage caps to aid competition – Steve Parish New Zealand head coach Ian Foster dismisses ‘favourites’ tag against Argentina Marcus Smith ruled out of England’s Rugby World Cup semi-final with concussion Charity urges players to take stance against link between gambling and football

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England has made it through to the first World Cup final since 1966 after the women's football team defeated Australia today - and calls are now mounting for a bank holiday if the Lionesses take home the trophy this weekend. Labour and the Liberal Democrats, as well as Lionesses’ manager Sarina Wiegman, have all backed the idea of an additional day off if England beat Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday. But the government has poured cold water on the prospect, saying an extra bank holiday is not currently in its plans. Downing Street said it will find the “right way to celebrate” if the Lionesses are triumphant. Prime minister Rishi Sunak congratulated the team on beating Australia earlier on Wednesday, posting on social media: “What a performance @Lionesses. Just one more game to go... Bring on Sunday.” Sir Keir wrote: “It’s almost 60 years since England won the World Cup. I’m never complacent about anything… but there should be a celebratory bank holiday if the Lionesses bring it home.” Goals from Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo gave England a 3-1 win on Wednesday. The UK had two extra bank holidays last year – one for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and another for her funeral – and there was a third in May this year for King Charles’s coronation. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “The Lionesses have made history by reaching the final – they are an inspiration to athletes across the country already. “Winning the World Cup would be a phenomenal achievement. It absolutely deserves to be celebrated with a bank holiday.” TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said if the Lionesses won, the government should “do the right thing”, adding: “It would be mean-spirited not to do so.” Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha told Channel 4 News that if the men’s team won the World Cup, there would be a holiday, adding: “So it deserves some kind of marking, it deserves some kind of national holiday definitely or something.” A petition on the parliament website asking for a bank holiday states: “I’d like the government to declare a bank holiday for all workers in the United Kingdom. Then we can celebrate in the achievements of England’s football team.” However, polls on social media showed nearly 60 per cent of voters were opposed to a bank holiday marking a win. Some users said England could not afford another bank holiday with the economy struggling. Others accused Sir Keir of populism, and one small business owner said they had had “more and enough bank holidays to put up with this year”. One, called Damon, posted: “If we can have a bank holiday for some old bloke getting a crown put on his head, I think it’s perfectly reasonable to have one if England win the World Cup.” A government spokesperson said: “Winning the World Cup would be a massive moment for the country and make no mistake we’ll find the right way to celebrate. “As Sarina Wiegman herself has said, the first thing to do is focus on the final and the whole country will be rooting for the Lionesses this weekend.” Earlier, No 10 told the BBC: “The current pattern of public and bank holidays is well established and there are no plans to change this.” A 2010 Commons library report said the then government estimated an additional bank holiday would cost the UK economy £2.9bn. Official figures released last month showed it contracted in May after businesses downed tools for the coronation. Gross domestic product fell by 0.1 per cent for the month, after increasing by 0.2 per cent in April, the Office for National Statistics said. Read More With one sublime pass, the Lionesses have unlocked the door to football Narnia Royals lead cheers for Lionesses as they reach first World Cup final Lionesses celebrate reaching World Cup final – Wednesday’s sporting social Mediterranean lifestyle cuts chances of premature death, study suggests Calls for a bank holiday if Lionesses win World Cup final Number of hospital appointments cancelled due to strikes nears one million

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