Harvey Elliott has admitted he’s decided to profit from his return to Liverpool after describing his mortgage spell at Aston Villa as a troublesome interval in his profession.
The midfielder moved to Villa Park final summer time on a season-long mortgage deal, with an settlement in place that may have seen Unai Emery’s facet signal him completely for £35 million if he reached 10 appearances.
Nevertheless, Villa opted towards activating that clause early within the marketing campaign, leaving Elliott with simply 9 appearances and 277 minutes of soccer earlier than returning to Liverpool prior to anticipated.
Emery later labelled the state of affairs “embarrassing for everybody concerned”, whereas Elliott has now opened up on the challenges he confronted throughout his time away from Anfield.
“I needed to go and discover one thing, come out of my consolation zone and do one thing that I believed personally would take me on as a participant once more,” Elliott mentioned after Liverpool’s 1-0 pre-season victory over Wrexham in New York.
“However sadly it didn’t work out.”
Elliott raring to go on return
The 23-year-old has since returned to Merseyside and has featured in each of Liverpool’s opening pre-season fixtures beneath new head coach Andoni Iraola, seeing the chance as a recent begin.
“Now I’m right here and it’s type of a second likelihood, if you wish to name it that,” he added.
“Particularly with the gaffer and new teaching employees coming in, it’s one other likelihood to impress and hopefully get of their good books.
“I want Villa nothing however the easiest. I had quite a lot of love for them and so they handled me very effectively. Sadly, the state of affairs occurred nevertheless it’s one other studying curve.
“I’m right here now and I’m making an attempt to cement my spot within the group or throughout the squad.”
Elliott got here by means of Fulham’s academy earlier than changing into the youngest participant to characteristic in Premier League historical past when he made his debut aged 16. He joined Liverpool in 2019 and initially turned a daily beneath Jurgen Klopp.
Nevertheless, alternatives turned extra restricted throughout Arne Slot’s title-winning marketing campaign in 2024-25, with Elliott making 18 Premier League appearances earlier than leaving on mortgage.
Midfielder opens up on psychological difficulties
The midfielder admitted his time at Villa examined him mentally, regardless of ending the season with a optimistic achievement after serving to the membership win the Europa League.
“Mentally, it was a really robust one. It was a studying curve,” Elliott defined.
“It was a chance for me to expertise one thing new, as a lot as I didn’t wish to do it, and I don’t want it upon every other participant as a result of it’s not good in any respect.
“However I’ve no arduous emotions. I’m on the opposite facet of it now.
“I used to be capable of get by means of it and obtain one thing on the finish of the season as effectively. To be a part of one other historic second for the membership was an important state of affairs.
“Proper now, I’m simply enthusiastic about ensuring I’m bodily and mentally 100% and making an attempt to impress on the pitch,” he mentioned.
“When the proper time involves ask him [Iraola], that’s after I’ll go and ask.
“Finally, it’s simply all the way down to me. So long as I’m placing within the effort, arduous work and want on the pitch, then I really feel like I’ve the alternatives.”
Elliott added that returning to Liverpool has reminded him why he loves enjoying for the membership.
“I’m actually pleased to be again. For the reason that first day I walked by means of the door at coaching, I had a giant beaming smile on my face.
“I’m carrying this strip once more and placing this shirt on, and I simply wish to be free, play as a lot as I can and simply get pleasure from it, as a result of typically I don’t really feel like I do it sufficient.
“Enjoying at Liverpool, there’s no higher feeling.”
