Harvey Elliott’s return to Anfield as a spectator underlines how Liverpool’s summer player exits may be haunting Arne Slot’s side.
Harvey Elliott will be back at Anfield this weekend, though only as a spectator, when Aston Villa face parent club Liverpool in the Premier League. The 22-year-old midfielder left Anfield in the summer for Villa on a loan deal that includes a £35million obligation to buy, effectively ending his Liverpool career.
Elliott’s situation mirrors the struggles that have followed since his departure. Despite scoring on his debut in a League Cup defeat at Brentford, he has managed just one Premier League start and was recently left out of Villa’s squad in their 1-0 win over Manchester City.
With Emi Buendia now injured, Elliott could have a chance to impress in coming weeks, but his absence at Liverpool feels significant. “There’s no doubt Elliott would have been in the running for minutes during Liverpool’s tough recent spell,” the Liverpool Echo reported.
His story reflects a wider issue, with other young talents like Jarell Quansah and Tyler Morton thriving abroad while Liverpool cope with reduced squad depth. The Reds’ decision to prioritize lucrative sales over depth now appears costly, highlighting the short-term pain of their summer transfer strategy — one that could shape Arne Slot’s first season in charge.