The 2025/26 season was pretty abject for Harvey Elliott. He was loaned out to Aston Villa from Liverpool but hardly played. Upon returning to the Reds after 12 months of little football, his body transformation has sparked a big reaction online.

The Englishman joined Villa last summer on an initial season-long loan with an obligation to buy for around £35m so long as he played enough games. Manager Unai Emery was evidently not keen on the midfielder, however, as he essentially refused to play Elliott.

The 23-year-old would play just four times in the Premier League for Villa that season, getting just 13 minutes off the bench after the turn of the year. He left Villa Park with nine appearances in total, one short of the ten he needed to trigger the obligation to join permanently.

Elliott’s future remains unclear, but for now he is back at Liverpool. The midfielder even started the recent friendly against Sunderland in Andoni Iraola’s first game in charge.

Elliott’s Return Sparks Reaction During Liverpool vs Sunderland Friendly

It was a positive return for Elliott, as he picked up an assist for Kieran Morrison after just 13 minutes. The Reds would win the game 4-2, with Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas getting on the scoresheet.

Ahead of the match, though, Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele shared some footage of Elliott warming up and noted how he’d ‘bulked up’ during his 12 months away from Anfield. He posted a video with the caption:

“Harvey Elliott back in a Liverpool shirt. And he looks like he has bulked up.”

In response to the video, many other fans agreed with the comment, adding their own thoughts. One said: “He looks awful, nothing like an athlete.” Another wrote: “You can’t have Messi’s height and frame and try to add muscles like Adama Traore. If anything, he needs to lose weight. Get more agile and quick.”

Indeed, the general consensus seemed to be concern, as another fan said: “Disappointing that he hasn’t looked after himself this summer because that’s not footballer bulk. Maybe he doesn’t think he has a future (which he should not think so, considering me manager, new chances)/maybe confidence lost due to Villa experience.”

One more claimed: “That’s not a good thing. He was to slow and laboured before bulking up.” A final supporter wrote: “Was better when he was much thinner. Already struggles to run never mind looking bigger.”

Liverpool have a big problem without Mohamed Salah

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Iraola To Give Elliott a Chance To Impress This Summer

Andoni IraolaREUTERS

Despite the concerns, it seems as though Elliott will be given the chance to impress this summer under his new manager. Speaking in his first press conference, Iraola said:

“Harvey is here with us. He has come [in early] also. I’ve seen him with this eagerness to show himself, to get himself ready again. He will have a chance during the pre-season; we will need him.”

What’s more, contrary to the claims about his body, it appears as though the player has been working hard to get fir for the new season, returning to Liverpool early after his summer break. Iraola revealed

“It’s a good sign that he came a week earlier; he’s been training with the under-21s, and I hope we can see him in a good place. I think Harvey, last season, had to be very difficult for him, because it was a strange situation where basically they couldn’t even put him in to play.

“I think he uses what he has experienced, the bad situation, to make him even more eager to be a Liverpool player, yes.”

The Englishman only has one-year remaining on his Anfield contract, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds.