FOOTBALL
By Eishna Rawat
Posted on July 16, 2026 5:00 pm | Updated on July 16, 2026 12:17 pm New Liverpool boss Iraola has promised Harvey Elliott a genuine chance this pre-season.
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Andoni Iraola has thrown Harvey Elliott a lifeline at Liverpool. The new head coach has confirmed that the midfielder is still part of his plans. It’s promising news out of Liverpool, and it arrives just as pre-season gets underway under the club’s fresh regime.
Harvey Elliott Given A Fresh Start By Iraola
The Reds have already lost plenty of experience this summer. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have all left on free transfers. So, at his first press conference as head coach, Iraola admitted his squad still needs strengthening. “We’ve signed two players, we need more, we know this,” he said, as reported by Liverpool Echo. The former Bournemouth boss also made clear his door stays open for fresh faces. He knows, though, that good deals simply take time.
Osasuna winger Victor Munoz arrived as Iraola’s first signing of the summer. Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet completed his switch back in January. Both are promising talents. However, neither has much senior **football**experience so far. As a result, Iraola knows there is still work to do before the transfer window shuts.
Amid that rebuild, Harvey Elliott could benefit the most. The academy graduate returned to Merseyside this month, following a tough loan spell away from home. For him, the timing could hardly be better.
A Difficult Season Now Behind Him
Last season was one to forget for the 23-year-old. As reported by Liverpool.com, he made just nine appearances on loan at Aston Villa. Manager Unai Emery rarely picked him, largely to avoid triggering a permanent deal. For a player once trusted regularly under Jurgen Klopp, that decline is telling. Before the move, he had made close to 150 appearances for the first team, so a lack of game time was not expected to be an issue.
Harvey Elliott for Aston Villa in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Starts Goals Duels Won
Premier League 5 1 0 3
EFL Cup 1 1 1 2
Europa League 4 1 0 6
Iraola addressed the situation directly when asked if the midfielder figures in his plans. He explained that last season was a strange, difficult spell for the player. According to Iraola, that experience will “make himself even more eager to be a Liverpool player,” as reported by Liverpool Echo.
It’s a simple message, yet a meaningful one. Few players start a new season with more to prove. Still, such open backing from his head coach should carry real weight. After all, backing from the manager often shapes how a player is perceived.
What Comes Next For Harvey Elliott
Pre-season now offers a real chance to shine. The schedule takes Iraola’s squad across the United States first, where they’re set to meet Wrexham, Sunderland, and Leeds. Two more warm-up games follow back home at Anfield, against Como and Monaco. After that, it’s straight into competitive action, with the Premier League opener away at Newcastle next month**.** That gives everyone a clear deadline to make an impression, and Harvey Elliott will want to use every single minute on offer.
Chances like this rarely come twice. Harvey Elliott will need output, not sympathy, if he wants to force his way back into the team. Fortunately, he already knows this club, its demands and its standards.
His positional range works in his favour. He can play in midfield or on the right side of attack, a spot now open after Mohamed Salah’s exit. He is also a boyhood supporter of the club, so motivation will not be an issue. This second chance is entirely his to take. The mood around him feels calmer and more positive this time. If he grabs it, this could be the fresh start he badly needed.
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Eishna Rawat
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