Harvey Elliott facing up to HARSH Liverpool truth

Harvey Elliott was overlooked by Thomas Tuchel - the new England manager - for the upcoming World Cup qualification matches against Albania and Latvia.

And in truth - in terms of minutes played at least - it’s hard to argue a case for Elliott making the senior team.

READ MORE: Liverpool Transfer News: Alvarez one step CLOSER as star's head is turned

We know he is talented, creative and capable of unlocking defences, but he hasn’t had the opportunity to show that this season under Arne Slot.

READ MORE: Why Liverpool will SHATTER their transfer record for Julian Alvarez

How different things were just a few short months ago.

When the provisional England Euro 2024 squad was announced, there was widespread surprise that Gareth Southgate didn’t draft Elliott in.

He finished the season as a starter for Liverpool, ousting £60 million-rated Dominik Szoboszlai - and ended the 2023/24 campaign with 11 assists.

That total was behind only Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez and it felt like Elliott had finally carved out his role in the Liverpool team. But since Jurgen Klopp left it’s been a tale of frustration.

Does Arne Slot trust Harvey Elliott?

Slot never trusted him from the off and a foot injury suffered on international duty in September left him out of sight and out of mind for months.

It’s been a painstaking process to get back into the lineup - only 120 minutes played in the Premier League all season and zero starts. He’s played more in each of the cup competitions - the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the Champions League.

READ MORE: Liverpool nearing move to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold with Arne Slot favourite

The former Fulham youth has however demonstrated in his fleeting appearances that he does have the quality to make the difference.

Elliott delivered a beautiful assist off the bench for Federico Chiesa in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday - just like he did for Nunez in the Premier League against Brentford a few weeks back.

He’s also got three goals in five Champions League games this season - including a winner away at Paris Saint-Germain.

Could it be time for Elliott to leave?

Elliott also says the right things; he loves Liverpool and wants to remain long-term. But it's not been enough for Slot.

His snub from the England reckoning - combined with the fact that Tuchel is only ever going to pick a squad for the here and now - means he is unlikely to force his way into the reckoning any time soon.

He’s had to watch as the likes of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers eclipse him for minutes played and subsequently take an England place that could have been his.

Former England manager Lee Carsley confirmed back in November that he would have called Elliott up for those international games had he been fit.

And he called him up once again for the Under-21s this month, although it remains to be seen whether or not he will make it after suffering injury against Newcastle.

But Elliott’s international career - like his Liverpool one currently - is stalled. He has played 20 times for the U21s but awaits a full debut.

And while there is no doubting how much he is dedicated to the cause, maybe there is a future where he no longer plays for the Reds.

Indeed it was speculated in January that he could be sold to either Borussia Dortmund or Brighton even though he ultimately stayed put.

He’s got a contract until 2027 but his prospects under this manager don’t appear great. Unless something changes drastically then Liverpool might well sell him while his value is high or else Elliott might well opt to run down his current deal.

READ MORE: It's all over for Diogo Jota as Arne Slot's reaction in Carabao Cup final says EVERYTHING

Either way, he’s probably deserved more football than he’s got this season and his international exclusion merely serves to ram home the point.

Stay and fight or go somewhere you’re appreciated?

Maybe that’s what Harvey Elliott needs to weigh up during these fallow international weeks.

EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool line up club record bid for Julian Alvarez