'Eager' Elliott will get his chance at Liverpool, says Iraola

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has guaranteed Harvey Elliott a chance to fight for his place in the squad this season after a difficult loan campaign at Aston Villa. During his first press conference as Reds boss, Iraola praised the midfielder's eagerness to prove himself following limited opportunities last term.

"Definitely. Harvey is here with us. I've seen him with this eagerness to show himself and getting himself ready again," Iraola said. The Spaniard emphasized that Elliott will have opportunities during pre-season to demonstrate his readiness for the first team.

Elliott joined Villa on a season-long loan after falling out of favor under Arne Slot, but a clause in his loan agreement restricted his appearances to just nine matches across all competitions. The 23-year-old, who starred for England's Under-21s in the European Championship last summer, struggled to make an impact at Villa Park.

Unai Emery acknowledged the situation hindered Elliott's development, but Iraola sees the adversity as motivation. "He uses this, the bad situation he has experienced, to make him even more eager to be a Liverpool player," the new manager added.

The midfielder, signed by Jurgen Klopp in 2019 after impressing with Fulham, has made 149 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 15 goals and providing 17 assists. He will be hoping to reignite his career under Iraola, who replaced Slot last month after his departure from Bournemouth.

Iraola also addressed his decision to sign a two-year contract, stating: "I hope I'm going to stay here a lot more than two years. It will mean I have done a very good job. I feel managers have to earn the right to continue every year, especially in clubs like Liverpool."