Harvey Elliott's future at Liverpool remains uncertain after he was left out of the matchday squad for the Reds' 2-2 Premier League opener against Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday. Dominik Szoboszlai scored a last-gasp penalty to earn a point for the Reds, but the 23-year-old was not among the substitutes.
Elliott's exclusion continues a difficult spell
The match marked the official start of Andoni Iraola's era as Liverpool head coach, with the new boss making four substitutions. Elliott, however, was not one of them, and he was also absent from the bench entirely.
This situation is one the Englishman grew accustomed to during his loan spell at Aston Villa last season, where Villa boss Unai Emery left him out of a Premier League matchday squad 24 times (excluding illness). Elliott played only 284 minutes across all competitions during that campaign.
Younger players preferred ahead of Elliott
A further sign of Elliott's current standing is that Lewis Koumas was preferred to him on the bench. The 20-year-old made his Premier League debut for Liverpool on Sunday, coming on for Ryan Gravenberch in the 78th minute.
Elliott's predicament appears to be worsening as Liverpool continue to pursue Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh. The Seagulls have turned down bids, with the highest believed to be around £60 million, and value the Gambian at £70 million.
Midfield and wing options limited
Elliott's versatility across midfield and on the right wing gives him multiple options to impress, but it has not yet resulted in more playing time. Liverpool are a man short in midfield following Curtis Jones' sale to Inter Milan, yet it is Trey Nyoni, not Elliott, who is regarded as the player to step into the void.
Without Minteh, Iraola prefers 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha on the right flank, as the England youth international started there on Sunday. Should Minteh clinch a move to Anfield, it is hard to see where Elliott could fit into the matchday squad, a group he is already struggling to be included in.
