Liverpool midfielder, Harvey Elliott, has recently expressed concerns about his future at the club. The 22-year-old England squad member for the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia this summer is considering whether to continue his career with Liverpool or seek opportunities elsewhere. Elliott's decision comes after a season where he was limited to just 18 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, with only two starts. The majority of these appearances were as a substitute, leading him to question if he is "wasting years" in his career.
In contrast to the previous campaign (2023-24), where he made 53 appearances and started in more than half of them (27), last season saw a significant reduction in his playing time. During that successful campaign, Elliott scored four goals and provided 11 assists. However, last season under manager Arne Slot's first year at helm saw him starting only against Chelsea and Brighton - both games which resulted in defeats after Liverpool had already clinched the Premier League title.
Despite limited opportunities on field last season, Elliott managed five goals and three assists across all competitions from just six starts out of total 28 games played. His contribution came within an overall playtime of merely 822 minutes. This performance comparison between two seasons clearly indicates how reduced playing time can impact a player’s contributions on field significantly.
Potential new signing could further limit opportunities
Adding fuel to Elliot's concerns is Liverpool’s interest in Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz this summer. If Wirtz joins the Reds' ranks it could further limit Elliot’s chances of securing first-team football next season.
When asked about potentially leaving Liverpool due to these circumstances, Elliot responded by saying that he would weigh up all factors during this summer before making any decisions about his future.
Liverpool midfielder, Harvey Elliott, said:
"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 22, I'm going to be 23 next season. I don't really want to be wasting years on my career because it's a short career. You don't know what's going to happen.
"I need to reflect. I need to see if I'm content in doing what I'm doing and how can I improve as a player because that's the most important thing. I just want to improve and be the best possible version of myself. If that's to go somewhere else, then it's a decision that I'm going to have to make and I just need to see what happens. Nothing makes me want to leave. I love the club, I love the fans, the team. I support them as well. But most importantly, it's just about what's best for my career."
Elliott's situation at Liverpool is a common one for young talents in top-tier football clubs. Balancing the development of promising players with the immediate need for success can be a challenging task for any club. As Elliott considers his future, both he and Liverpool will have to make decisions that best serve their respective interests. For now, all eyes are on this summer as it could potentially mark a significant turning point in Harvey Elliott's career.
