Slot Confirms Elliott Returns to Liverpool Next Season

Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed on Thursday that Harvey Elliott will return to the club at the start of next season after a frustrating loan spell at Aston Villa.

The 23-year-old midfielder joined Villa on a season-long loan last summer, with the arrangement including an obligation for the Midlands club to purchase him permanently for around 35 million pounds once he reached 10 Premier League appearances. Elliott has made exactly nine such outings, totaling just 284 minutes of first-team action, leaving the deal in limbo. He fell out of favor under Villa manager Unai Emery and remains ineligible to face Liverpool when the teams meet in Birmingham on Friday.

Slot addressed Elliott's situation during his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash. "I think for him, everyone, it didn't work out as we wanted it," Slot said. "Usually you sign a player on loan to use him, but it hasn't happened a lot. Not for me to answer why that is, but it is never nice for not many minutes." The Dutchman praised Elliott's talent, noting his standout performance as Player of the Tournament when England won the Under-21 European Championship last summer. "Such a talented player... You want a...