By TOM COLLOMOSSE, FOOTBALL REPORTER and LEWIS STEELE, FOOTBALL REPORTER

Published: 15:55, 30 October 2025 | Updated: 15:55, 30 October 2025

Harvey Elliott will be denied a return to Anfield this weekend as he is ineligible to face his parent club - but the out-of-favour Aston Villa star's Liverpool days are not completely over due to a clause in his contract.

The 22-year-old signed for Unai Emery's men on Deadline Day on loan with an obligation to buy - but Mail Sport can reveal that commitment is only active once Elliott has played a certain number of games.

It means Elliott could, in theory, return to Liverpool and the Premier League champions not cash in on the £35million fee they had agreed with Villa in the summer. Other clubs, including German sides, retain an interest in the midfielder.

Elliott was left out of Emery’s squad altogether for Villa’s 1-0 win over Manchester City last Sunday and he will not be in the matchday party for Saturday’s trip to Merseyside, though this is due to him being unable to face his...