Over the last few seasons, Liverpool Football Club had some younger players that were staking a claim to more minutes with the first team.
Players like Curtis Jones, Conor Bradley and Harvey Elliott all had several high-point moments where it was easy to see them as part of the long-term future at Anfield. For the first two in that group, that has been the case, whereas it's gotten more complicated for young Harvey.
Still only 22, Elliott has found life at Aston Villa extremely challenging following his loan move there in the summer in search of more regular minutes to keep improving as a player.
So, what went wrong at the Midlands club and where do we go from here? There's an option on the table to resolve it all.
Harvey Villa Freeze Out
Last season, despite limited chances at Liverpool, Elliott showed his worth with some valuable performances and showings, including a winning goal in Paris over PSG in the Champions League.
His ability to play on the wing, attacking midfield or a deeper role, meant he was a very valuable super sub asset that could be plugged into a Starting XI in a pinch. He made 28 appearances in all competitions while scoring 5 goals and registering 3 assists.
Yet, it was clear Arne Slot valued others more, and following a summer spending bonanza, Elliott sought the chance to revive his development at a rising club like Aston Villa, managed by one of the best in the game in Unai Emery.
It was a loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season, as it looked like a perfect fit for club and player on paper. Unfortunately, games are not played on paper and Elliott has been left to rot.
He has only made 6 total appearances for Villa in the 2025/26 season, with only two of those being starts. He has not stepped on the pitch in a competitive match since the beginning of October.
Emery does not see him as a good fit for what he is trying to do tactically at Villa, which is odd given the wide range of places he can fit into a squad on matchday.
However, Aston Villa are playing great this season and Harvey was a late acquisition at the end of the summer window, so maybe it was never going to work out the way we expected.
What Happens Now?
There is no recall option in the deal agreed between the clubs, meaning that if Villa wants to end the loan early, they would have to pay to terminate it of their own accord.
Fabrizio Romano does not think Elliott is long for the Birmingham-based club. He spoke on the situation on his YouTube channel recently.
""Aston Villa decided to go for Harvey Elliott very last minute. It was on deadline day, but he’s not playing. He’s not playing, and so Liverpool are obviously not happy. The player is not happy, and Villa want to find a solution. So, Harvey Elliott is expected to return to Liverpool and then assess the situation, whether he’s going to stay or find a new solution on loan.""Fabrizio Romano on Harvey Elliott
So it appears that he will be making a sooner-than-expected return to Anfield, and the Reds might actually be making a minor profit on the whole ordeal.
However, with the current lack of depth in the Liverpool first team, a returning Harvey Elliott could be just what the doctor ordered. His positional versatility and familiarity with the Slot system would ensure a seamless reintegration at the club.
Now, whether or not Slot and the club see things the same way is a different matter. Having played a handful of minutes for Liverpool in the Community Shield, where he missed a penalty in the shootout before leaving, he cannot join a new club this season.
It would behoove the Reds and Slot to take advantage of this turn of events and bring Elliott back into the fold and allow him to showcase his worth to them or a new club in the summer.
If it works out, he can sign a contract extension with Liverpool and continue his journey here as many hoped. If not, a fresh buyer could be found come the summer window.
At worst, it's a short-term plan to survive for Liverpool, but it could benefit both club and player going forward.