The appointment of Andoni Iraola as Liverpool manager has generated mixed reactions among supporters, but there is one player who is likely to welcome the Spaniard's arrival with open arms.
Harvey Elliott spent last season on loan at Aston Villa after seemingly being informed by Arne Slot that he was not part of the club's long-term plans.
The England international struggled for regular opportunities at Villa Park, with reports suggesting the club were reluctant to play him extensively due to clauses that could have triggered a permanent transfer should he reach a certain number of appearances or minutes.
With a new manager now at the helm, Elliott may view the start of the Iraola era as the perfect opportunity to return and revive his Liverpool career. And the new manager’s words on giving everyone at the club an opportunity will be music to his ears.
""For me, and I will tell them, [they] are all new signings. For me, you are all new signings and I think we have a lot of quality in our squad, and [I'm] really looking forward to working with them.""Andoni Iraola
Iraola has built a reputation for placing his trust in young players, something he demonstrated throughout his time at Bournemouth, and he is expected to take a similar approach at Liverpool.
That could be welcome news for Harvey Elliott, who was named Player of the Tournament at the UEFA Under-21 European Championship, the last time he enjoyed a consistent run of regular football.
Potential switch of position on the cards
Elliott has primarily operated on the right flank throughout his Liverpool career, often deputising for Mohamed Salah when the Egyptian was unavailable or rested. With Salah now gone, a vacancy has opened up in that position.
However, Liverpool are believed to be targeting Yan Diomande as their long-term replacement, which could once again leave Elliott facing uncertainty over his role. An alternative solution may be to shift him to the left wing.
Iraola's system relies heavily on inverted wingers, allowing full-backs to overlap and provide width in attacking areas. Marcus Tavernier thrived in that role at Bournemouth last season, regularly drifting inside to combine with the attacking midfielder and striker.
Elliott possesses a similar skill set and could flourish in a setup alongside players such as Florian Wirtz and either Alexander Isak or Hugo Ekitiké.
This would allow Elliott and Wirtz to interchange seamlessly, adding greater fluidity to Liverpool's attack and helping shift the creative burden away from the right flank, which has been the team's primary source of attacking play in recent seasons.Â
Time will tell whether the popular man among The Kop can take his opportunity under the new manager.
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