A Liverpool star looks ready to return to the club. He now fits perfectly into Arne Slot’s new team.
Liverpool finally made a tactical change this season. Under Arne Slaughter, they moved away from a 4-2-3-1 formation for the first time and have played a diamond-shaped 4-4-2 in the past two games.
advertise
The diamond was more evident against Inter than it was against Leeds, though. In fact, we have to take Slott’s word for it that the formation against Leeds should actually be a diamond.
But it was clear that Slot wanted to try something new. This led to him omitting Mo Salah from the team, with no traditional wingers and instead focusing on the center of the field.
But do they have the players to do so? One problem is that with four midfielders in the squad, they risk exhausting the entire lineup of options.
However, perhaps there is one returning player who can help resolve that issue.
advertise
Harvey Elliott’s troubled loan
Harvey Elliott is on loan at Aston Villa this season and, ideally, his time at Liverpool should be over. The plan is for him to be a huge success there, easily justify Villa’s purchase option and move there permanently in 2026.
This almost certainly won’t happen. According to The Athletic , Villa are trying to send Emery back to Liverpool after he publicly admitted they had no intention of triggering the option.
This is pretty crazy because the purchase option automatically triggers after appearing 10 times. Villa appear willing to keep Elliott on the bench for the rest of the season to avoid paying that fee.
advertise
Now, this is a lending disaster, but there may be a silver lining. In fact, maybe this ended better for Elliott.
After all, Liverpool are better suited to the playmaker than they were last season. His only real role in the team in 2024/25 is that of an attacking midfielder – he lacks the speed of a winger like Salah and the size to be an out-and-out central midfielder.
That’s why the change in formation suited him. Instead of wingers, Liverpool now need a midfielder who can move inside and create chances.
Dominik Szoboszlai has been playing well, although Liverpool might prefer him in a more central role, or even on the left. Elliott may not immediately become a wide midfielder, but he yes his natural position.
advertise
He likes to strip down the flanks and find space between the defensive lines. He’s also great against tight defences, and Eliot always does better than people think.
We think he could be the ideal candidate for what Liverpool are trying to do at the moment. So perhaps this failed move to Villa may actually be what Elliott needs to finally earn a place in the Reds.
