While [Liverpool](https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/)’s fortunes mostly rose under Arne Slot last season, the manager building on the foundations left by Jürgen Klopp to guide the Reds to the Premier League title, there were individuals who clearly didn’t benefit from a new trainer’s arrival.
The most obvious, perhaps, being Harvey Elliott. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder and boyhood Liverpool fan who signed on in 2019 struggled for minutes, and when he did play it never seemed as though there was perhaps even a role for him.
It’s a situation that has led to plenty of speculation about Elliott’s future, and speaking after an appearance for England’s U21s in his final summer of eligibility at that level, he was open and honest about the fact he’s currently considering that future.
“It’s just a situation that me and the team have to have a conversation about, because I’m coming into an age now where I’m going to be 23 next season,” Elliot said. “I don’t really want to be wasting years of my career because it’s a short career.
“I need to reflect. I need to see if I can I improve as a player. That’s the most important thing, to be the best possible version of myself and the best player I can be. If that means to go somewhere else then it’s a decision that I’m going to have to make.”
Elliott looked primed to establish himself as a key member of Liverpool’s squad for the foreseeable future over the final two years of Klopp’s reign, making 46 and 53 appearances respectively in 2022-23 and 2023-24 as a 20 and 21-year-old.
That included 32 and 34 league appearances. In 2024-25, he made 28 _total_ appearances, with 18 coming in the Premier League, leading to the current situation where everyone seems broadly to agree he might well need a move for his career.
“Nothing makes me want to leave,” Elliott added. “I love the club, I love the fans, the team. I support them as well. But as I said, most importantly it’s going to be about what’s best for my career, and so I just need to make that decision.”