Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, has expressed his support for the unsettled midfielder Harvey Elliott, who has seen significantly less playing time under his leadership compared to his previous tenure with Jurgen Klopp.
Elliott has only started four matches this season, three of which were in domestic cup competitions, with the fourth being a Champions League match that had no bearing on the standings.
This situation has sparked speculation that the 22-year-old may consider a transfer this summer, particularly with reported interest from Newcastle United.
It is worth noting that Elliott missed two months of the season due to a broken foot prior to Christmas, a factor that Slot believes has contributed to his limited playing time.
After Elliott’s recovery in November, the manager was hesitant to disrupt the successful formula he had established.
‘It is crucial that players who are part of our team wish to remain here.
This reflects positively on everyone involved with the club,’ Slot stated, suggesting that Elliott is not actively seeking a transfer.
Earlier this week, Elliott echoed this sentiment, reaffirming his dedication to Liverpool despite the challenging and ‘difficult’ situation he currently faces.
Harvey is one of the players that hasn’t had as much playing time as he maybe deserves,” Slot said.
“But like some others he is in competition with so many good players that mainly [I] have chosen other players. Also, partly because he was injured for a long time, and I’ve been honest with him.
“The boss continued: “The first part after he came back from his injury, he wasn’t the same as he was before his injury.
But the last few months he’s back to his old level again but there was no need for me to start with different players.
I think if you look at the amount of minutes he had in the last one or two months and the time before you can see it goes up already.
That tells you that I like him more now than I did when he came back from his injury in the first month.
“The games that Elliott has played this season have come in a variety of positions, on either flank, in central midfield and as a number 10.
His contract, signed in 2022, runs to 2027, with £40m rumoured to be Liverpool’s valuation.