Liverpool sent Harvey Elliott on loan in the summer but the English playmaker has struggled to play much meaningful football this season.
After just 174 minutes of football and a single assist in the Carabao Cup, it might be time to bring Elliott back to Anfield.
While Arne Slot barely gave him much game time last season, Liverpool’s squad is a lot smaller than it was last season.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup directly follows this campaign and as it stands, there is zero chance that Elliott will be selected. Of course, playing enough football is just a pre-requisite and there’s an argument to be made that Elliott isn’t ready to play at the World Cup anyway.
Yet, he is still a Liverpool player and the loan which was supposewd to help him is now actively hurting his career.
Don Hutchison baffled by Harvey Elliott’s Aston Villa nightmare
Speaking via the Daily Express, Hutchison said: “If you’re Liverpool, you’re probably best off bringing him back and keeping him in the squad.
“They only had a short number on the bench at the weekend and, probably that’s why Mo Salah was a little bit fortunate that he made the bench. [Cody] Gakpo was injured, [Wataru] Endo was injured, and [Conor] Bradley was suspended, so I think it’ll be a good move from Liverpool to bring him back.”
The 54-year-old said that it’s possible that Diogo Jota’s death has had a massive impact on Elliott’s performance.
He said: “It’s bizarre how he’s not got any game-time over at Villa. The only thing I can put it down to – because he’s got the ability and his attitude’s good – he was really close to Diogo Jota and he’s just feeling it really deeply.”
Liverpool should bring Elliott back to Anfield
Liverpool sent Elliott to Villa on loan with a £35million obligation to buy clause, but the Villains don’t seem likely to activate it after just 174 minutes of football.
If the midfielder is just struggling to impress Unai Emery, Liverpool should bring him back.
If Elliott is struggling because of his close relationship with Jota, Liverpool should bring him back to a club filled with people going through the same thing.
One way or another, it’s time for Liverpool to end Elliott’s loan spell as it’s not producing anything positive regardless of the reasons for why.
