Andoni Iraola insisted Harvey Elliott will be given the opportunity to fight for his place at Liverpool after a difficult loan spell with Aston Villa last season. 

Elliott joined Unai Emery's side on a season-long loan after falling out of favour under Arne Slot, but failed to make the desired impact at Villa Park. 

The 23-year-old, fresh from starring in England's Under-21 European Championship success last summer, managed just 277 minutes of game time across all competitions. 

It is believed that his appearances were limited by a clause in the loan agreement that would trigger Villa's obligation to buy after he made ten outings; he only reached nine.

Emery conceded that the situation was affecting the midfielder's development and expressed his sadness about how events unfolded, though Iraola revealed in his first press conference as Liverpool's new boss that Elliott was eager to get himself back into the side. 

"Definitely. Harvey is here with us. I've seen him with this eagerness to show himself and getting himself ready again," Iraola said.

"He will have a chance during pre-season. We will need him. It's a good sign. He came one week earlier. He has been training with the under 21s.

"I hope we can see him in a good place. Last season had to be very difficult for him. It was a strange situation where they couldn't even put him to play.

"And I think he uses this, the bad situation he has experienced, to make him even more eager to be a Liverpool player."

Building up for the start of pre-season training next week pic.twitter.com/qj0Xb31spL

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 7, 2026

Elliott was signed for Liverpool by Jurgen Klopp in 2019 after impressing with Fulham, and broke into the first-team squad in the 2021-22 campaign. 

He has made 149 appearances across all competitions in that time, scoring 15 goals and providing 17 assists, along with winning six major honours at Anfield. 

And Elliott will be hoping to make an impact under Iraola, who replaced Slot last month after his departure from Bournemouth. 

Iraola addressed the media for the first time since joining the club, and spoke at length about Liverpool's needs to strengthen during the summer transfer window. 

The Spaniard was also asked about his decision to sign a two-year contract, something he has done throughout his managerial career. 

He said his reasoning was down to earning the right to remain at the club, and Iraola revealed he will continue to do so. 

"In terms of coaching contracts – they don't matter a lot," said Iraola, who signed a two-year deal with Bournemouth before extending it in 2024 by a year.

"I don't want to be in a place because I have a contract. I signed for two years, but it's basically year to year when you are a coach.

"I hope I'm going to stay here a lot more than two years. It will mean I have done a very good job.

"I feel managers have to earn the right to continue every year, especially in clubs like Liverpool. I've always done it like that."