Harvey Elliott hoping for Liverpool ‘second chance’ under Andoni Iraola

Harvey Elliott of Liverpool during the clash with Wrexham at Yankee Stadium. Pic: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

Harvey Elliott is hoping Andoni Iraola’s arrival can give him a “second chance” to establish himself at Liverpool.

The 23-year-old endured a difficult season on loan at Aston Villa last term, playing only nine games – a total of 277 minutes – due to a clause in the deal which meant Villa would have been obliged to sign him for £35million had he made a 10th appearance.

On Wednesday night Elliott was back in Liverpool’s engine room for their 1-0 pre-season friendly win over Wrexham in New York, but questions remain over his future as he is linked with another move away.

“Everyone knows how much I love the club,” Elliott said after the match. “I’ve supported them from a very young age so the feeling never goes of putting the shirt back on and representing the club. It’s a childhood dream. Every time I put the shirt on I want to give it 100 per cent.

“(Last season) I wanted a new challenge. I wanted to kind of go and explore something, come out of my comfort zone, (something) that I thought personally would take me on as a player.

“Unfortunately it didn’t work out but the way I see it, that was last season. Now I’m here, it’s kind of a second chance, if you want to call it that, especially with the gaffer and new coaching staff coming in, it’s a chance to impress… 

“I’m here now and I’m trying to cement my spot in the team or within the squad.” 

Last season was a major setback for Elliott, who a year ago was named player of the tournament as England under-21s won the European Championships. 

A man who should have been pushing for a place at the World Cup instead spent his weeks training but knowing he would not be involved come the weekend.

Elliott said he attached no blame to Villa and has no hard feelings for a season spent mostly on the sidelines, insisting the club treated him well and kept him full informed of his situation, and that he looks at the year as a learning opportunity that came with success in the Europa League.

Elliott has continued to be linked with a possible move this summer, with Leeds, Sunderland and RB Leipzig among those credited with a possible interest.

“I’m wanting to be selfish, doing what’s right for me,” he said. “Whether that’s staying here and fighting for my place or whether that’s potentially going elsewhere I’m still unsure at the moment.

“But since the first day I walked through the door at the AXA (Training Centre) I’ve had a big beaming smile on my face. Putting the shirt on, I don’t want to take these moments for granted because last season I thought it was the last opportunity to do it.

“Now I’m back here wearing the strip again. I just want to be free and play as much as I can and enjoy it because sometimes it feels like I don’t do that enough.”