Harvey Elliott (signed on loan)

[Dave]

If Liverpool want to protect their investment, they'll terminate this loan early Jan.

Is there investment better protected by him not playing for them and them paying his wages, over him not playing for us and us paying his wages?

[Des Little]

If he can’t get a game against a pub team like Young Boys, there’s no hope for the kid here. Return to sender.

[Somniloquism]

Did we want to use up one of the 10 appearances against a pub team like Young Boys. If he hasn't made an appearance by the 27th Dec though I expect we are not playing him at all.

[tomd2103]

If Liverpool want to protect their investment, they'll terminate this loan early Jan.

Emery doesn't want him so best for all parties to agree it was a 4 month fuck up and call it a day.

There was a discussion on Sky Sports News about him earlier today.  The reporter was outside Villa Park and said that it's likely Emery doesn't rate him and certainly doesn't want to fork out £35m for him, so it's unlikely that we will see him play for Villa again. 

Unless he's done something badly wrong, it's hard not to feel a bit of sympathy for him. 

[PeterWithe]

Seems like cruelty to finally put him in the match squad then not put him on when our youth team would have been comfortable. Not at all content with the way we are treating him.

[andyh]

See ya

[Smithy]

Seems like cruelty to finally put him in the match squad then not put him on when our youth team would have been comfortable. Not at all content with the way we are treating him.

If the 10 game thing is real, as well as its impact on our 'net positive window' demand from UEFA, then I have no doubt the club will have sat down with him and explained the situation; it's not like he'll be feeling 'snubbed', he'll understand perfectly why he's not playing.

If it's not real, then I strongly suspect there will be negotiations going on to see if we can find a compromise to hand him back in January.  It'll cost us, no doubt, but we'll make it work to free up a squad place.

However, we have 8 games left in the calendar year, so if the clause is real, he can still appear in 4 of them without it being triggered.  If we've not seen him on the pitch by the Arsenal game (which will be our 4th game in 10 days), then you'd have to think Unai simply doesn't fancy him.  In this very crowded run of fixtures, you'd have to think he'll be used, even if it uses up a couple of his remaining 2025 appearances, just to give some of the other players a rest.

[eamonn]

If Liverpool want to protect their investment, they'll terminate this loan early Jan.

Is there investment better protected by him not playing for them and them paying his wages, over him not playing for us and us paying his wages?

They're shite, he will get a game for them!

[PhilVill]

If Liverpool want to protect their investment, they'll terminate this loan early Jan.

Is there investment better protected by him not playing for them and them paying his wages, over him not playing for us and us paying his wages?

They're shite, he will get a game for them!

Agree, Slot will welcome him back with open arms, if he's still there by Jan!

My point was that basically, the more he sits on our bench/or even left out of squads altogether, his value diminishes week by week. At least back at Liverpool, he'll get some involvement - he may even dislodge Salah...

[cdbearsfan]

Surely Liverpool will just spend another half a billion quid in January so they won't need him.

[PeterWithesShin]

Back out the squad again.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Back out the squad again.

Maybe suggests that if there is an obligation to buy triggered after 10 games, those have to be league games. UTV

[Dave]

Back out the squad again.

Maybe suggests that if there is an obligation to buy triggered after 10 games, those have to be league games. UTV

He'd be playing in the Europa League matches then.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Back out the squad again.

Maybe suggests that if there is an obligation to buy triggered after 10 games, those have to be league games. UTV

He'd be playing in the Europa League matches then.

Not necessarily, assuming Emery does not really fancy him.

With a few first choice options rested for Europa League games, Emery can put him on the bench and use him if needed - even if only to run down the clock. It might that he won't even risk that with league games.

[Somniloquism]

Back out the squad again.

Maybe suggests that if there is an obligation to buy triggered after 10 games, those have to be league games. UTV

Or it shows that there is less places on the bench then in UEFA competition games.