Harvey Elliott would have hoped to be involved as Liverpool faced Newcastle on Sunday but Andoni Iraola instead turned to youngsters on his bench
Harvey Elliott.
Harvey Elliott has had a tough year(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has axed Harvey Elliott from his first Liverpool squad for the Premier League opener against Newcastle, as Federico Chiesa also misses out.
Liverpool begins the new season with a trip to St James' Park as Iraola bids to get off to a winning start. There were not too many surprises in his opening line up as Jeremy Jacquet was handed his Reds debut in central defense.
Alexander Isak was also given the nod up top and was serenaded with angry chants by Newcastle fans as he arrived at the game with his teammates following his acrimonious move to Anfield last summer.
READ MORE: Newcastle unveils incredible Kevin Keegan tribute with Liverpool fans involved
Elliott meanwhile spent last season on loan at Aston Villa but the spell turned into a nightmare as he barely featured under Unai Emery.
He was given a fresh start at Liverpool under Iraola but was dealt another brutal setback after being left out of the squad, with a permanent exit now seeming likely.
Speaking earlier this summer, Elliott said: ""Everyone knows how much I love the club. I've supported them from a very young age so the feeling never goes of putting the shirt back on and representing the club.
"[Last season] I wanted a new challenge. I wanted to kind of go and explore something, come out of my comfort zone, [something] that I thought personally would take me on as a player.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
"Unfortunately it didn't work out but the way I see it, that was last season. Now I'm here, it's kind of a second chance, if you want to call it that, especially with the gaffer and new coaching staff coming in, it's a chance to impress.
"I'm here now and I'm trying to cement my spot in the team or within the squad."
Iraola instead named Lewis Koumas and James McConnell among his substitutes, alongside summer additions Victor Munoz and Ronald Araujo.
Chiesa was also absent for Liverpool amid speculation over his own future. He missed training this week due to an unspecified issue and was deemed unfit to feature.
Article continues below
Newcastle meanwhile handed out a number of debuts ahead of a new era at St James Park under boss Matthias Jaissle.
Goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek got the nod from the start, alongside fellow new recruits Sean Steur and Amar Dedic.