‘He has to’: On-loan Liverpool star sent fierce warning by new manager after tough start since Anfield exit
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Some Liverpool stars have been given the chance to shine elsewhere, but not all of them have hit the ground running.
The Reds have started the season on fire after being the only team to win all five of their games in the league so far, meaning they are currently five points clear at the top of the table.
Their success on the pitch has also come from their success off it, with Liverpool having a transfer window to remember, and this does not just refer to incomings.
They also earned well over £200m from player sales this summer, as well as loaning out some key stars so that they can continue their development.
One player who technically fits into both of these categories is Harvey Elliott, as the Englishman has joined Aston Villa on loan with an obligation to buy.
However, the 22-year-old, like all of his teammates in fairness, has struggled at the start of the new season, but his new manager Unai Emery has sent him a rather harsh reality check.
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There is no denying the sheer quality Elliott has, he was just not given the chance to show it at Liverpool, hence why he was keen on a move.
Villa were his destination in a move that looked good for both player and club, although things have not got off to the best of starts.
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Emery’s side find themselves in the relegation spots after five games after failing to win a match yet, scoring just one goal in the process.
To help the latter, many thought Elliott would be the man to solve this issue, but he is yet to start in the Premier League for them despite finding the back of the net midweek in the Carabao Cup.
The reason for this according to his manager is that he is yet to adapt to his new surroundings, with Emery warning Elliott that he “has to learn.”
“Harvey, he had one chance to score, but he has to understand our identity better as well,” Emery told talkSPORT after Villa’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
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“He has to [make] more passes before doing the last pass, the last assist.
This is one way he has to learn.”
Of course, it is still very early days for Elliott and in the season for Villa, but results will need to change for them very soon.
Liverpool have certainly lost a very talented player, but for the sake of his career, they needed to allow him to go and play regular football.
The deal they managed to pull off too could be very beneficial in the future, with there being multiple clauses within it.
Not only will the Reds receive £35m once he makes a certain amount of appearances, but they also have a sell-on and buy-back clause inserted into his contract just in case.
So, if Elliott does eventually flourish, which many people expect him to go on and do, the Reds will be able to bring back a now-ready-made star or even gain a decent amount of windfall if he is sold elsewhere.