Portsmouth insider shares what Liverpool sources worryingly tell him about Harvey Blair
Harvey Blair made his mark for Portsmouth last weekend with his first-ever senior goal, and you could see how much it meant.
The 21-year-old, signed from Liverpool last summer for a £300,000 sum, made only his second start at Hillsborough and equalised for the Blues.
Pompey boss John Mousinho admitted Blair still has a long way to go and used Championship assist king Josh Murphy as the barometer, but praised the young winger for the promising signs he exhibited.
Ian Darke reveals what Liverpool told him about Blair
Blair is steadily making his mark and has admitted his own frustration at his lack of opportunities this season, with his style of play not really aligned with what Mousinho needed for the Championship scrap.
Portsmouth signed Blair on a contract until 2027, offering him time to progress. The wide man has not yet embarked on a loan spell throughout his career, having never been loaned out by Liverpool before his permanent move south.
TV commentator Darke, speaking exclusively to Pompey News, rates Blair highly but has admitted Liverpool staff told him they let him go as he was too “fragile”.
He made one senior appearance for Liverpool as an 18-year-old back in 2021, when Jurgen Klopp was in charge. It was a 55-minute runout in the EFL Cup against Preston North End.
“I think Pompey are just hoping he gradually progresses. The word I’ve got from people I know at Liverpool who look after the youngsters is that he’s got bags of talent but is very fragile,” Darke said.
“That was their worry and was what prevented them believing he would come through at Anfield and become a success there. That’s why they let him go for comparative peanuts.
“But there have been one or two signs from last Saturday he could make the step up. He has good pace, but is he durable enough for the Championship? He still has it all to prove in that department.”
Blair could explode into life at Portsmouth next season
Blair‘s future remains unpredictable, given the obvious reservations about him up against the trademark physical nature of English football.
Portsmouth, however, have favoured his raw ability – shown by his effectiveness against Sheffield Wednesday last week and various cameos off the bench this term.
| Harvey Blair – Portsmouth 2024-25 | Total |
| Appearances | 11 |
| Starts | 2 |
| Minutes played | 271 |
| Goals | 1 |
Liverpool could maybe have loaned him out earlier in his fledgling career to give him that required EFL exposure, though clearly had their reasons not to.
There is a high chance Blair could be sent out on loan from Fratton Park this summer, depending on the squad outlook as the 1 September deadline approaches.