Liverpool’s summer spending may have reshaped the squad, but Harvey Elliott’s season has begun with another test of patience. The 23-year-old, on loan at Valencia after a difficult spell at Aston Villa last season, is still searching for the regular first-team football that has eluded him in recent campaigns.

Elliott’s move to Aston Villa included a potential £35 million obligation to buy after 10 appearances, but he made only nine outings and the clause was not triggered. He returned to Liverpool before joining Valencia on a season-long loan in search of a more prominent role.

His start in Spain has been slow. Elliott has made five substitute appearances for Valencia without a league start, and reports in Spain have raised concerns over his initial fitness levels. However, Valencia manager Javier Aguirre has offered an encouraging assessment after monitoring the Liverpool loanee in training.

“I’m delighted with his attitude,” Aguirre said. “He has a lot of quality and he is a Valencia player. We have to get the best possible out of him.”

Aguirre added that Elliott has looked sharper and is working with a personal nutritionist as he seeks to reach full fitness. The midfielder’s improved condition could increase his chances of earning more regular minutes in the coming weeks.

Liverpool have also maintained contact with Valencia over Elliott’s situation. An early return to Anfield has been ruled out, with discussions focused instead on helping him establish a clearer route into Aguirre’s plans for the remainder of the loan.

Elliott faces strong competition for creative midfield roles at Liverpool, where Florian Wirtz currently occupies a similar position. His immediate focus, though, is on converting the trust expressed by Aguirre into starts, goal contributions and a meaningful role at Valencia.