Harvey Elliott has struggled to establish himself as a first team regular at Aston Villa following his move from Liverpool in the summer
Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa arrives at the stadium prior to a UEFA Europa League match
Harvey Elliott has had a challenging start to life at Aston Villa(Image: Photo by Lars Baron - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Image)
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Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott has endured a difficult start to life at Aston Villa following his deadline-day move, but his attitude and application amid the struggles speaks volumes about the 22-year-old’s character.
Elliott joined the Midlands club on a season-long loan at the end of the transfer window, with 10 appearances triggering an obligation-to-buy clause in the region of £35 million. The midfielder sought an exit from Anfield this summer on the back of a stellar campaign at the Under-21 Euros - in which he won Player of the Tournament - and in a bid to secure more regular game time.
Despite being a key player for Jurgen Klopp, Elliott fell down the pecking order when Arne Slot took over in the summer of 2024, partly due to an injury sustained at the start of last season. He made 28 appearances across all competitions, but those equated to just 822 minutes of action.
However, despite initially being tipped to become a key player for Unai Emery at Villa, Elliott’s struggle for regular minutes has been equally, if not more, difficult in the Midlands. He has five appearances in all competitions so far, totalling fewer than 200 minutes.
Elliott hasn’t started a Premier League game for Villa since the end of September and has been absent from the last three matchday squads. One absence was due to ineligibility to face his parent club at Anfield, but against Manchester City and Bournemouth the decision was purely tactical.
A recent report from The Athletic played down suggestions of cutting the loan short and returning to Liverpool in January. The article states there is no recall clause in the deal, and neither club has indicated that they want to end the agreement early.
They go on to say there is 'growing frustration' on the player’s side, simply because his situation appears to be deteriorating as the weeks go by - an understandable feeling given he left the Reds in search of game time. With England now qualified for the World Cup, he is running out of time to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s thinking.
Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa
Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Yet one line in particular stands out. The report reveals that Elliott has impressed Villa’s staff with his attitude and application in training, despite the difficult circumstances. He is also said to have taken no offence to Emery’s early tough love, which references the manager’s criticism of him after their 1-1 draw with Sunderland earlier in the season.
For Elliott, that attitude may be what serves him best in the weeks ahead as the fixture list ramps up. It would be easy for a player in his position to withdraw, especially if they feel their efforts are not being rewarded, but in Elliott’s case his desire to keep going will no doubt help him get where he needs to be in time.
Youri Tielemans has understandably been used as a case in point for Elliott, as the Belgian initially struggled to adapt to Emery’s demands when he first joined the club. Now, the midfielder is a key figure for the manager when fit.
After the international break, Villa enter a very winnable run of games, including a trip to Leeds United and home matches against Young Boys and Wolves. It could be the perfect opportunity for Elliott to stake his claim at Villa Park.