Liverpool told to ‘bring back’ £35m midfielder | OneFootball

Liverpool urged to bring Harvey Elliott home as loan stalls

There is a familiar unease when a young player’s momentum drains away in plain sight. Harvey Elliott left Liverpool in search of minutes and purpose, a short journey down the M6 that was meant to sharpen him. Instead, the loan to Aston Villa has dulled his season, leaving questions that now drift back towards Anfield.

Elliott joined Villa on loan at the end of the summer window, with an obligation for the move to become permanent after 10 appearances in the Midlands. That threshold remains distant. He has featured only sparingly and has not appeared since a Europa League win over Feyenoord in early October. Unai Emery has been open about the difficulty of selection, with competition fierce and form elsewhere compelling. For Elliott, the door has quietly closed.

Loan move losing momentum

Time matters for a 22 year old who helped Liverpool over the line in a Premier League title run. Elliott’s craft thrives on rhythm, on the accumulation of touches and trust. Without them, the season thins. The logic of the loan was clear, but the outcome has been stark. Elliott has accrued half of the required appearances and the calendar has slipped on.

That reality has prompted a call from someone who knows Liverpool well. Don Hutchison has urged a recall, not as sentiment, but as pragmatism. With Arne Slot navigating injuries and suspensions, the margins have tightened. Squad depth has become a weekly concern rather than a theoretical one.

Hutchison makes case for recall

Speaking to Oddsboom via Daily Express, Hutchison said, “If you’re Liverpool, you’re probably best off bringing him back and keeping him in the squad.

Photo: IMAGO

“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.”

There was also a human note, offered carefully. Hutchison suggested the impact of Diogo Jota’s death in July has weighed heavily. “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.”

Squad needs under Slot

Liverpool’s season has demanded adaptability. Elliott’s brief cameo in the 3-2 win at Newcastle in August showed he remains capable of contributing in tight moments. A recall would not promise starts, but it would offer relevance, training standards, and a role when benches look thin.

FIFA regulations complicate alternative loans, limiting players to two clubs per season. Options narrow further until 2026. A calendar year league has been mentioned, with Major League Soccer floated, but those solutions feel distant and disruptive.

Path forward for Elliott

The simplest answer may be the most sensible. Bring Harvey Elliott back to Liverpool, reintegrate him, and see what the months reveal. Even if the long term future at Anfield appears uncertain, allowing a gifted player to drift unused serves nobody. For Liverpool, for Elliott, and for a season that rewards readiness, the recall feels less like nostalgia and more like common sense.