Why Elliott could suit the new midfield shape

Harvey Elliott is one of those Liverpool players who always seems to land in the “nice footballer, but where does he play?” category. Not because he lacks quality, but because the old templates didn’t quite suit him. In a straight midfield three he can get outmuscled, and out wide you’re asking him to win footraces he’s not built for.

That’s why his return from loan could actually make more sense if we’re sticking with a system that loads the pitch with midfielders. Four. Sometimes five, depending on how you describe the roles. In that kind of shape, Elliott doesn’t have to survive on his own in big spaces. He can be tucked in, protected, and allowed to play the game he’s good at: little angles, quick combinations, and clever final-third decisions.

A role that keeps him in the game

There’s a difference between “being lightweight” and being left exposed. If Liverpool are using more bodies centrally, Elliott can operate as a right-sided creator rather than a touchline winger. A left-footed option there changes the picture straight away, because it opens different passing lanes and shooting angles.

It also gives Arne Slot another way to manage games without ripping up the whole structure. You can see the logic in having Elliott available for those home matches where the opponent sits in and invites you to break them down. He’s often looked at his best when the task is patience and craft rather than end-to-end running.

The right-back relationship matters

One thing the fanbase has talked about a lot is how Elliott and Trent never really clicked. Not because either is a bad player, but because they can drift into similar pockets, wanting the ball in the same corridor. When that happens, the team can look a bit lopsided and easy to mark.

If you’ve got a more natural overlapper on that side, a “Frimpong type” in profile if not name, then suddenly Elliott’s tendency to come inside is an advantage rather than a traffic jam. The full-back can stretch the pitch. Elliott can combine and slip passes into the half-space. It starts to look like a partnership instead of two lads stepping on each other’s toes.

Not the long-term answer, but a sensible one

None of this has to be framed as Elliott being the solution to everything. He doesn’t need to be. Sometimes squad building is about having the right rotation options for the right problems, especially if injuries are starting to bite and the calendar is doing what it always does.

And truth is, it beats the alternatives. It beats a panic buy that doesn’t fit. It beats another rushed loan where he’s starting over somewhere else. Give him minutes in a role that suits him, use him when games call for his skill set, and see if the system finally lets him look like he belongs.

Written by funky061: 22 December 2025