Liverpool are still trying to figure things out under Andoni Iraola.
The first couple of months under the Spaniard have shown promising glimpses of what could be at Anfield, but the side lacks consistency and still looks some way off competing on all fronts.
Several issues still plague the squad, but two of the most prominent have come in the midfield and on the right wing.
The Reds midfield has lacked balance this campaign and has often been the weakest area on the pitch, whilst the right side of the attack is left with no natural option following the departure of Mohamed Salah.
Luckily, there is one man who could fix both problems for Liverpool.
Liverpool have an obvious option to solve squad issues
Harvey Elliott was an important and established member of Liverpool’s first-team squad when Jurgen Klopp left the Anfield dugout in 2024.
This status changed under Arne Slot however, and Elliott’s development stalled resulting in him being able to leave the club the summer after the Reds were crowned Premier League champions.
A botched loan-to-buy move to Aston Villa wasted a year of Elliott’s career last campaign, and now the Englishman finds himself on loan with Valencia in La Liga.
Having only made four appearances, all from the bench, and receiving heavy criticism since moving to Spain, Elliott may well be assessing his options come the New Year.
His most recent cameo did earn the 23-year-old some praise from the Spanish media, but it is fair to say Liverpool’s former golden boy isn’t off to the start he would have hoped for.
Elliott will be desperate to get his career back on track and hungry to succeed, which when combined with his ability to play on the right-wing and in the midfield makes him the perfect option for Liverpool this January.
The Englishman should be recalled from his loan as soon as the January window opens and offered the opportunity to get both his career and Liverpool’s season back on track.
He knows the team, the league and the players well and could slot seamlessly back into his former side.
Bringing Elliott back represents the perfect cost-effective option for Julian Ward, and Liverpool’s recruitment team should bare that in mind.