Harvey Elliott is determined to repair the damage caused by a difficult opening spell at Valencia, where his latest loan move from Liverpool is threatening to become a “significant disappointment” amid concerns about his form, fitness and discipline.
The England midfielder moved to the Estadio Mestalla following a miserable campaign at Aston Villa, yet he has struggled to earn regular opportunities under two managers. So far, he has made only six appearances, all from the substitute’s bench.
His problems deepened last weekend when he was dismissed just 19 minutes after entering the match against Villarreal. The visitors then scored a 90th-minute winner moments later, leaving Valencia second from bottom after 10 matches.
Liverpool remain in regular contact with their loanees and the clubs they represent. The latest feedback from Valencia is that Elliott, 23, has been working diligently away from the pitch to improve his physical condition.
However, Julian Burgos, a Valencia expert, tells Liverpool Confidential: “At the moment, I don’t think he has adapted. He has been a significant disappointment, particularly because he arrived with the pedigree of a Liverpool player.
“That said, he has been working hard in recent weeks and appears to be in better physical shape.”
Harvey Elliott is on loan at Valencia, where Valencia expert Julian Burgos says he has been a “significant disappointment”
Elliott was dismissed against Villarreal despite entering the game as a substitute
“If the opportunity to end the loan emerges, Valencia will probably take it. With a new sporting director and manager, as well as the team’s poor results, they appear likely to reverse many of the decisions made by former sporting director Ron Gourlay.”
Valencia dismissed their previous head coach, Carlos Corberan, in mid-September after taking only one point from their first five league fixtures.
“They need to create room under the salary cap if they are to reshape the squad,” Burgos added. “As a result, they will probably welcome any chance to move on players signed under the previous regime.”
Elliott spent last season at Aston Villa, where manager Unai Emery clearly did not view him as part of his plans. Villa stopped him from making the 10 appearances that would have triggered a £35million permanent transfer, an outcome that had appeared almost certain when he initially joined.
Because Elliott had played for Liverpool at the beginning of the previous season – making a five-minute substitute appearance in their second match – he was unable to move to another club on loan. FIFA rules state that players can represent only two clubs on the pitch during a single season.
Valencia have no option or obligation to sign him permanently. Their new manager, Javier Aguirre, familiar to England supporters for his touchline antics with Mexico at the World Cup, is prepared to give Elliott time to rebuild his fitness after his lack of football last season.
Valencia have appealed the red card he received for two yellow cards, while Elliott is understood to have apologised to his team-mates.
Elliott endured a frustrating spell at Aston Villa last season, where he rarely featured
There is some positive news from Valencia, though!
Across the city at fellow La Liga side Levante, another Liverpool loanee is enjoying a far more encouraging campaign.
Centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe has been tipped to become “one of the best in the world” in his position.
Burgos said: “Since making his debut against Sevilla four matches ago, he has become a regular starter for manager Luis Castro. Castro has already said Ndukwe has the attributes to develop into one of the finest players in the world in his position.
“He recovered from an early error against Sevilla to score an equaliser in stoppage time and has been a permanent fixture ever since. At 18, he has an impressive physique, excellent coordination for a player of his height and the foundations of a top footballer, both now and especially in the future.”
Ndukwe was unable to remain at Liverpool this season because of a work permit issue. He is now believed to have accumulated the points required to return to Anfield, and his loan agreement contains a recall clause.
Even so, it may benefit Ndukwe to remain at Levante, where he is playing every week, before being gradually introduced to Liverpool’s first-team squad next year.
Liverpool centre-back Ifeanyi Ndukwe has impressed at Levante and established himself as a regular starter under Luis Castro
Ndukwe was unable to stay at Liverpool this season because of a work permit issue, but he now has the points needed to return to Anfield
Is £47m the only route for ‘Big Ron’?
Ronald Araujo has been Liverpool’s main talking point this week after producing a man-of-the-match display against Brighton. The Uruguayan’s popularity with supporters continues to soar.
But is it foolish for fans to become attached to a loan player? Will Liverpool make his temporary move permanent? And could they agree a fee below the £47million clause?
Last week, I promised to answer supporters’ questions in this column, so here are the responses to the Araujo queries.
Yes, supporters are absolutely justified in taking to him. Liverpool would be open to making the transfer permanent if he maintains this level of performance – otherwise, there would have been little reason to include the purchase option in the agreement. Some may note that Liverpool do not usually sign players aged 28, Araujo’s age in March, but Virgil van Dijk remains an example of an older defender still performing at the highest level at 35.
Liverpool should also be able to negotiate a lower fee than the figure previously agreed with Barcelona.
Ronald Araujo has been outstanding for manager Andoni Iraola this season
Debate over Trent gathers pace
Trent Alexander-Arnold has dominated conversation this week after falling out of favour with new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho. That has prompted debate over whether Liverpool should bring him back, although Confidential understands that Alexander-Arnold remains content in the Spanish capital.
Even so, would a reunion make sense? Financially, no. Would Liverpool benefit from his creativity at right-back? Yes. Would supporters welcome him back enthusiastically? No – although football has produced stranger twists.
For now, however, there is nothing to suggest a return is close.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is out of favour at Real Madrid, but a return to Anfield appears unlikely
A quiet away section
Supporters of French club Lens have been prohibited from purchasing tickets for their team’s Champions League visit to Anfield.
Lens, who finished second in Ligue 1 last season under current Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage, are due to visit Liverpool in the new year. As things stand, they will make the trip without an away following after UEFA banned the club from selling visiting supporters’ tickets following incidents in Belgium last week.
During Lens’ defeat at Bruges, supporters were punished for lighting and throwing pyrotechnics, which injured disabled fans.
The club also stopped its own supporters from buying tickets for this week’s derby at Lille, stating: “This situation goes far beyond the displays that sometimes accompany popular expression in the stands. A red line has been crossed. This line was not implicit.”
Anfield also had an empty away section last year when Galatasaray visited in the last 16, with Liverpool winning that match 4-0.
Big Mama’s finest night… despite the useless water-bottle notes
Wednesday brought an important evening for Giorgi Mamardashvili against Chelsea.
The Georgian goalkeeper has received mixed reviews since arriving from Valencia, with several performances falling below expectations.
This may have been his strongest display so far. Alongside a crucial penalty save, he made several other important stops as he and Mike Penders kept the score level.
Liverpool’s No. 2 can afford to laugh at whoever prepared the shootout notes for his water bottle, however. None of the instructions proved accurate, leaving Mamardashvili diving the wrong way on several occasions.
Giorgi Mamardashvili celebrates Liverpool’s victory over Chelsea with team-mate Kostas Tsimikas after arguably his finest performance for the club
The week ahead… will Szoboszlai be fit?
Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal is the biggest test of the Andoni Iraola era so far because it could define the direction of Liverpool’s season. A defeat would leave them nine points behind the champions, while victory would cut the gap to three and reinforce the belief that they can beat anyone.
Could Liverpool welcome back some of their injured players?
Dominik Szoboszlai is working towards a return, but here is one final question to consider this week: if last year’s player of the year is fit, does he reclaim a place in Iraola’s strongest XI?
