Liverpool outcast “not happy” amid concerns for his future

Liverpool have been a shadow of their former selves this season after winning the Premier League title earlier this year.

The Reds suffered their fifth league defeat of the campaign during their trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City last weekend.

Their domestic form has been a huge concern for the Merseyside giants and has only worsened, with the club now sitting eighth in the Premier League table after 11 games.

Liverpool had a record-breaking summer transfer window, introducing around £450m worth of new talent to their title-winning squad. This included high-profile signings such as Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.

Most of the new arrivals have struggled to adapt to their surroundings since moving to Anfield, and there’s a sense that this current dip in form could be part of a transitional period for the team.

Not only did Liverpool add several new faces, but they also offloaded a number of experienced players who played key roles in their recent success. Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez were both sold, while Harvey Elliott was sent to Aston Villa on loan.

Elliott’s move was set up as an initial season-long loan with an obligation to buy based on appearances, but so far, it hasn’t gone to plan.

The 22-year-old, who struggled for game time under Arne Slot, viewed the move to Villa as an opportunity to gain valuable minutes and regular first-team football.

However, this hasn’t transpired, with Elliott featuring just seven times in all competitions this season so far, averaging only 25 minutes per appearance.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that the Liverpool midfielder is “not happy” with the current situation.

“At the moment, it depends on his performances in training.”

“The situation is still not changing, and, of course, Elliott is not happy.”

There’s no doubt that Elliott was a fan favourite during his time on Merseyside and would likely be warmly welcomed back by supporters.

However, breaking back into the team would be just as challenging as before, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch the most trusted midfield options under Slot.

It may be counterproductive for Elliott to return in January, though if his situation at Villa Park doesn’t improve, Liverpool could consider recalling him to add depth.

The Reds are in a precarious position, with Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup fixtures piling up over the coming weeks and months.

There’s little room for error after such a disappointing start, so having another versatile, experienced option could benefit Slot and Elliott’s ability to operate in multiple positions, makes him a useful asset from the bench.

That being said, it will be interesting to see what Liverpool and Elliott decide is best for his future and whether a return to Anfield in January could be on the cards.

Rebekka Arnold is an experienced writer with a strong background in digital media, PR and football journalism.

Since 2021, Rebekka has written opinion pieces and match reaction content for Football Fancast, part of the Snack Media network, building on her growing presence in the football community through viral Twitter content and podcasting.

Now at Transfer Tavern, Rebekka brings her sharp eye for analysis and deep passion for the game to deliver engaging football opinion and breaking transfer news content.