Liverpool loan player Harvey Elliott faces a three-week deadline after a rough start at Valencia.
Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott has faced some criticism at Valencia because he didn’t have a proper pre-season and has been carrying extra weight in Spain.
The 23-year-old struggled before moving to Valencia on loan, with limited game time and uncertainty about his future at Liverpool. Marca reports that Elliott is now “paying the price for an unusual pre-season” and needs to lose weight over the next three weeks to meet Valencia’s fitness standards.
So far in La Liga, Elliott has only played 85 minutes across three games. He got 36 minutes against Barcelona, 28 minutes against Sevilla, and just 21 minutes versus Real Sociedad. He didn’t play at all in a recent win against Alaves, with Marca saying he’s “well overweight for his physique.”
The Spanish outlet added that he’s not the same dazzling player he used to be because he’s out of shape. They said this break is like a special pre-season for him, giving him three weeks without any matches to focus on getting fit. Elliott needs to be in top shape to shine, but so far, that hasn’t happened because he arrived out of shape.
Marca also explained that this situation is somewhat understandable given Liverpool didn’t include Elliott in their plans and wanted to move him on. His unusual pre-season is now affecting his current form. He must work hard over the next three weeks to get back to his best and help the team.
Elliott’s positive momentum has slowed down in the past two years. After Jurgen Klopp’s time at Liverpool ended in 2024, Elliott saw fewer chances to play. Under Arne Slot, the team focused mainly on stars like Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, leaving Elliott on the sidelines.
He then went on loan to Aston Villa, where things didn’t improve much. He played only 11 games and 304 minutes, even though Villa won the Europa League. When Slot left, fans hoped Elliott would return as a valuable substitute like he was under Klopp. However, new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola didn’t see him fitting into his plans, so Elliott was sent on loan again.
At Valencia, Elliott is one of the highest-paid players, with the club covering most of his Premier League-level wages. According to BBC Sport, Valencia doesn’t have to buy him after the loan ends in 2026-27, so his future at Liverpool is still possible.
Elliott said he wanted the chance to play regularly and try a new league. He’s grateful to Valencia for the opportunity and feels ready to get started, but said it’s ultimately the coach’s decision whether he plays.
In short, Elliott’s journey has had ups and downs recently, but he now has a fresh chance at Valencia to improve and prove himself again.