AdminHarvey Elliott is determined to revive his Liverpool career after admitting his loan spell at Aston Villa failed to go as planned.
The 23-year-old returned to Anfield this summer following a frustrating season at Villa Park, where he managed only nine appearances and 277 minutes of football.
A clause in the loan agreement reportedly meant Villa would have been required to sign him permanently for £35 million had he made a 10th appearance.
After Liverpool’s 1-0 pre-season win over Wrexham in New York, Elliott reflected on the difficult campaign and his desire to impress new head coach Andoni Iraola.
“(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.”
Elliott insisted he has no resentment towards Villa, describing the experience as an important lesson despite spending much of the campaign on the sidelines.
He has been linked with Leeds United, Sunderland and RB Leipzig this summer, but says no decision has been made.
“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.”
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