Harvey Elliott January decision looms as Liverpool consider Aston Villa recall

Harvey Elliott’s immediate future is back under the spotlight as Liverpool weigh up a key January decision over the midfielder’s loan spell at Aston Villa, with a recall now being considered amid his lack of game time.

The 22-year-old joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan from Liverpool on deadline day in the summer, a move designed to give him regular minutes after a frustrating campaign at Anfield.

Elliott arrived at Liverpool from Fulham as a teenager and has since made just under 150 senior appearances for the Reds across all competitions, scoring 15 goals.

Among those was a crucial strike against Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s Champions League round of 16, helping Liverpool take an advantage into the second leg at Anfield. However, that goal was one of only five he managed all season, with consistent starts proving hard to come by under Arne Slot.

That lack of minutes made a temporary exit inevitable — but the Villa move has not delivered the fresh start Elliott hoped for.

Elliott has made just seven appearances for Villa in all competitions and has not featured in a matchday squad since October. Despite reports that Villa’s coaching staff have been impressed with his attitude and application in training, Unai Emery has consistently overlooked him.

The loan deal includes a purchase option — understood to be around £30m–£35m — but only if Elliott reaches a specified number of appearances. With his minutes drying up, it appears increasingly unlikely that clause will be triggered.

That reality has major implications for both clubs.

While the January transfer window offers Liverpool a chance to reassess, recalling Elliott is far from simple. Any early termination of the loan would likely involve financial penalties for Villa — something they would be reluctant to accept.

There is also a regulatory complication. FIFA rules prevent a player from representing more than two clubs in a single season. Elliott made a brief appearance for Liverpool against Newcastle United earlier in the campaign, meaning that if he were recalled, he could not be loaned out again this season.

That leaves Liverpool with a limited set of options if they decide to act.

Speaking about Elliott’s situation, Emery appeared to confirm that a permanent deal is not part of Villa’s plans.

“First, my decision and also the situation,” Emery said. “He is on loan playing with us, but he is not definitely adding to us with a permanent contract.

“Hopefully we can get the best for him and the best for us. I respect him as a player and as a person. He is training well, but we have one circumstance with him.

“Hopefully we can get a solution for him to try to play consistently and try to continue in his career with us or not.”

Those comments underline the uncertainty facing Elliott as the window opens.

The lack of football has also taken a toll on Elliott’s international ambitions. With fierce competition for places, his chances of forcing his way into England national football team plans under Thomas Tuchel ahead of the World Cup appear to have slipped away.

Liverpool must now decide whether keeping Elliott at Villa — where his pathway looks blocked — serves any purpose, or whether recalling him to Anfield to train and compete internally is the lesser of two evils.

Either way, January represents a pivotal moment in the midfielder’s career trajectory.

Should Liverpool recall Harvey Elliott now — or let the loan run its course despite the lack of minutes?