Liverpool’s ‘hunger and desire’ this season is ‘different’, claims Harvey Elliott, ahead of the Reds’ game against West Ham

• Liverpool are unbeaten since April and face the Hammers at Anfield on Sunday
• They are on the up after a summer rebuild following last year’s disappointment
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Liverpool’s desire and hunger to win competitions feels different this season after a sub-par campaign last year, insists young midfielder Harvey Elliott.

The Reds are unbeaten since April in all competitions and have won four matches from a goal down this season, including 3-1 victories from behind at Wolves last weekend and LASK in Linz, Austria on Thursday.

And while Jurgen Klopp denied this week that the ‘mentality monsters’ are back, he did say ‘something is growing’ at Anfield after a huge summer overhaul that saw them lose 1,776 worth of Premier League appearances in exits and welcome four new midfielders.

Klopp’s men have been significantly boosted by second-half performances – they are yet to concede a goal after the break in a match, and have scored 10 – and clever substitutions, with Elliott a regular off the bench when Liverpool need an injection of energy.

‘This season feels different,’ said Elliott, 20, who played a pivotal role in England’s Under 21 European Championship triumph this summer. ‘The hunger and desire, we just need to keep putting in these performances and keep coming away with three points.

Harvey Elliott has insisted Liverpool’s ‘hunger and desire’ this season is ‘different’ as they look to bounce back from last year’s disappointing campaign

The Reds have come from behind to win in four matches so far this season, including in the week against LASK

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‘We are trying to bed in the (new players) into the team and try to make them feel welcome and try to show them the Liverpool way. You have to know what it means to play for Liverpool and they have got that instantly.

‘The quicker we become a team and have those relationships with one another and become a family then the better and more successful we will be quicker. We just need to keep being a team, keep mixing among each other, keep learning off each other.’

On Liverpool’s tendency to come back – they won four of 21 games when conceding first last term, a tally that has already been matched – Elliott added: ‘No, definitely (it is not planned). There will be a certain time when it stops and we won’t be able to come back.

Elliott is wary that his side can’t keep coming from a goal down to win and that they have ‘a lot to work on’

Red boss Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, has said West Ham ‘look really good’ ahead of the match on Merseyside

‘There is a lot we need to work on, we just need to start games better and get off to a flyer and not go a goal down and have to wake ourselves up. We just need to keep trying and at the end of the day we showed resilience once again.’

Liverpool host West Ham at Anfield on Sunday and will have a well-rested team available after making 11 changes in Austria on Thursday. Captain Virgil Van Dijk returns after missing two league matches through suspension, while Trent Alexander-Arnold should be fit again.

Klopp said of the Hammers, who have lost just once this season: ‘Even with Declan Rice gone, they look really good. James Ward-Prowse is a super signing, Lucas Paqueta is a super player. They look solid.

‘The league is extremely strong which is good for the people but it means we have to be the best version of ourselves.’

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