Liverpool's attacking options have been dealt a severe blow with striker Alexander Isak suffering a suspected broken leg, prompting speculation that the club could seek to bring Harvey Elliott back from his loan spell at Aston Villa.
The injury occurred during Liverpool's 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Saturday, December 22, 2025, moments after the Swedish international had found the net. Isak, a club-record £125million signing last summer, had only recently begun to show his best form and is now facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
An Injury Crisis Compounded
The timing of Isak's setback could hardly be worse for manager Arne Slot. The Reds are already set to be without star forward Mohamed Salah during the Africa Cup of Nations, while Cody Gakpo is also injured. Defensive midfielder Wataru Endo adds to the growing treatment room concerns.
This mounting crisis has led to discussion about potential short-term solutions, with one prominent name re-entering the conversation: Harvey Elliott.
The Elliott Loan Dilemma
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, who starred for England's Under-21s in their European Championship triumph last summer, secured a deadline-day loan move to Aston Villa in August 2025. The deal included an obligation for Villa to buy him for £35million should he reach a specified number of appearances.
However, Elliott's stint at Villa Park has turned into a nightmare. He has managed just five appearances totalling 174 minutes, with his last outing coming at the start of October. It has been widely suggested that Villa's reluctance to trigger the purchase clause is behind his lack of game time.
FIFA regulations state a player cannot represent more than two clubs in a single season. Having made two brief appearances for Liverpool in August, Elliott cannot be loaned to a third team. His only route to more football this term is either at Villa or back at Anfield.
Carragher's Recall Prediction
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes a return to Merseyside is now a distinct possibility. Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: "One thing for certain now, Mo Salah will be staying at the club. I think there’s a good chance Harvey Elliott would come back from Aston Villa as well."
While reports indicate there is no formal recall clause in Elliott's loan agreement, the two clubs could still negotiate a cancellation of the deal in the January transfer window. Such a move would, however, represent a financial blow for Liverpool, forgoing the potential £35m fee.
Carragher also referenced alternative transfer plans, noting Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, who has a £65million release clause, is a known target. He suggested the club would not panic-buy, stating: "They won’t go out and buy a striker who they don’t really want."
The coming weeks will reveal whether Slot opts to pursue a new signing like Semenyo, promote from within using talents like Jayden Danns, or attempt to engineer the return of a familiar face in Harvey Elliott to bolster his depleted forward line.
