Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott is reportedly facing several weeks on the sidelines due to a foot fracture.
The 21-year-old has only been a bit-part player for Arne Slot in the 2024-25 season so far, making just one appearance as a late substitute in the Reds' 2-0 win over Brentford in gameweek two.
Elliott failed to make it off the bench in victories over Ipswich Town and Manchester United either side of that seven-minute cameo, but he was called up to the England Under-21 squad for the September international break.
However, the former Fulham starlet was forced to pull out of the ranks and returned to Liverpool for what England described as "further medical assessment" without revealing the nature of his injury.
Now, The Times reports that Elliott has sustained a fracture to his foot after experiencing discomfort during training, and the issue will sideline him for at least six weeks until late October.
Which Liverpool games will Elliott miss?
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Elliott's layoff will rule him out of a handful of Premier League and Champions League matches for Liverpool, starting with this weekend's visit of Nottingham Forest to Anfield and the Reds' European opener away to AC Milan on September 17.
Elliott was actually not selected in Liverpool's main Champions League squad, but as he was born after January 1, 2003 and has been at Liverpool for over three years, he was eligible for their B list.
However, the 21-year-old will certainly miss the trip to San Siro next week, as well as the home showdown with Bologna (October 2) and trip to German giants RB Leipzig (October 23).
Liverpool will also be without Elliott for Premier League clashes with Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers later this month, in addition to their EFL Cup third-round tie with West Ham United, which the 21-year-old would have presumably had a good chance of starting in.
Meetings with Crystal Palace and Chelsea either side of the October international break should also come too soon for Elliott, and it remains to be seen if he will be available for the clash with Arsenal on October 27.
How big a blow is Elliott's injury?
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Even though Slot has only used Elliott sparingly so far, his absence deprives Liverpool of a versatile offensive option thanks to his capabilities both in midfield and on the right-hand side of the attack.
Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai will have to work without one of their backups for several weeks while Elliott recovers, but the former should not feel the impact as much thanks to Federico Chiesa's arrival.
The former Juventus man was not declared fit enough to face Manchester United two weekends ago, but there is a good chance that he will be involved in the clash with Forest, which Salah will of course start in.
Elliott's absence is still far from ideal owing to Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister's recent issues, but there is optimism that the pair will both be fit for this weekend's game.
While Liverpool can certainly survive without Elliott, the winger's layoff is another cruel setback to his hopes of truly igniting his Reds career, having memorably also spent a few months out with an ankle dislocation in 2021.
Ben Knapton
