By OkayGoal
Harvey Elliott’s loan spell at Valencia has taken another bruising turn, with the Liverpool midfielder sent off just 16 minutes after coming on against Villarreal and then savaged by the Spanish press.
The 23-year-old Harvey Elliott has yet to start a game for the La Liga side, and his latest cameo ended in the worst possible way. Valencia boss Javier Aguirre has since taken the blame for the dismissal.
The Spanish media, though, were far less forgiving of the player.
Why was Harvey Elliott sent off for Valencia?
Elliott was introduced in the 70th minute at 1-1, and his chances of making an impact looked better when Villarreal were reduced to ten men after a red card for Pape Gueye.
Referee Alejandro Quintero Gonzalez then showed the attacker two yellow cards for dissent in quick succession, and Elliott was gone after only 16 minutes on the pitch.
The match finished 10 v 10, and Villarreal’s Georges Mikautadze struck a 96th-minute winner. That leaves Valencia with one win from their 10 top-flight games this season, and they sit 19th in La Liga.
Elliott touched the ball just 10 times before his dismissal. It is the latest low ebb in a difficult run for the Liverpool man, and the second time in recent weeks that Liverpool’s dealings with Valencia have made headlines.
How did the Spanish press rate Harvey Elliott?
The reviews were brutal. Eldesmarque gave him a 1/10 rating, saying that although he “got involved”, he failed to make a decisive impact before being dismissed. Vavel also awarded a 1/10, targeting his “rookie mistake” and warning that Valencia supporters will remember it for a “long time”.
AS were more measured, claiming Elliott did his best to get involved and showed encouraging movement, but still “posed no threat” before his exit.
Super Deporte did not hold back. They described him as a “thin-skinned child” and handed him a zero out of 10.
Aguirre takes the blame for the Harvey Elliott red card
Aguirre labelled the sending-off “absurd” in his post-match press conference and pointed out that Elliott barely speaks Spanish.
“An absurd, ridiculous sending-off, obviously for talking, even though he barely speaks Spanish,” Aguirre said. “I don’t know what he could have said to the referee, the referee is bilingual, I just don’t know, but it was for talking and that really irritates me.”
The Valencia manager added that he had already spoken to the player. “It’s not his fault, it’s my fault, if anything, for putting the players I put in and playing with one less man,” he said. “It’s entirely my fault. But behind closed doors I’ll talk, I’ll say what I have to say.”
Harvey Elliott suspension and what comes next
Elliott will serve at least a one-match La Liga ban, which rules him out of Valencia’s trip to Elche on 1 November. He should be available to face Real Madrid six days later if the suspension is not extended.
The midfielder is still waiting for his first Valencia goal or assist after six appearances. His Liverpool contract expires in 2028 and he is no stranger to game-time concerns. Valencia now have a player who needs minutes and a clean slate.
Author opinion
Aguirre falling on his sword is a decent gesture, but the bigger concern is the lack of game time. Six appearances without a start is not the loan Elliott or Liverpool wanted, and a red card on a rare outing will not help his case.