Old Liverpool habits die hard: Portsmouth winger on battle to adjust to Blues playing style

For Harvey Blair, old Liverpool habits die hard, yet the winger is convinced he’s finally beginning to adapt to Pompey demands.

With 19 outings since his August 2024 arrival from Anfield, it has been a learning process frustratingly slowed by persistent injury issues, most recently involving his hamstring.

The attacker had spent nine years with the Premier League giants, rising from their under-11s to reach the first-team, with a Carabao Cup start against Preston in October 2021.

It’s a progression built upon possession-based football enjoyed by Liverpool sides at all levels, dominating matches and dictating games.

Now a Pompey player, Blair is challenged with adjusting to operating more without the ball, including tracking back and helping his team-mates in defensive situations.

And the 22-year-old believes it’s a new side to the game he is quickly coming to terms with.

‘At Liverpool we would literally have the ball the whole game’

Blair told The News: ‘It’s not easy playing in a totally different side, but I am definitely getting there.

‘When I was at Liverpool, everything was on the ball because we dominated it the whole time. Pompey is completely different. It’s about adapting to the team and getting used to how we play.

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‘Growing up there, we would have the ball literally the whole game. That’s what Liverpool sides do throughout the age groups. Then, I’ve come here, and it’s completely different, so I have to adjust - and that’s not a complaint by the way.

‘I’ve had to learn the position the gaffer wants me to be in on the press in certain areas of the game. When you have not started so many matches it’s difficult to just get right into it.

‘I just feel like the more games I play, I will get used to it even more and be able to show everyone.

‘Obviously it's totally different to Liverpool, but I’m sure I will get used to it pretty quickly.’

In the injury absence of Josh Murphy, Blair has started on the left wing in two of Pompey’s last three matches.

Intriguingly, all three of his previous Blues starts came on the right wing, including when he registered his maiden Football League goal in the 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday in April 2025.

Yet the youngster is adamant where his favoured role is.

‘My best position is left wing’

He added: ‘My best position is left wing, I used to play there at Liverpool. I like coming inside, but also going down the line.

‘On the right side, I feel a little limited where I can only go down the wing because I’m not as good on my left as on my right. So I feel I can be a little predictable on the right, where I’m forced to go down the wing.

‘However, I actually seem to get into areas and positions better to score on the right. Whereas on the left I feel more free and I can do my things that I’ve done my whole career.

‘I just feel more fluent on the ball there, even my first touch. I can get it and have options to go inside, outside. QPR’s right-back (Amadou Mbengue) didn’t know what I was going to do, so he was backing off the whole time.’

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