Liverpool transfer news: Harvey Elliott verdict reached as star is recalled from loan

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Liverpool were beaten for the first time this year on Saturday, conceding late in a 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League . The result marked an end to the their 13-match unbeaten run as they slip outside the top four .

Arne Slot's side had hoped to build on an impressive victory over Marseille in the Champions League as they travelled to the south coast. But they were subjected to a late sucker punch when Amine Adli swept home an added-time winner, cancelling out goals from Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai .

It wasn't just current Liverpool stars who were dealt a setback on the weekend either, as Harvey Elliott was forced to watch another Aston Villa match from the bench. He was named in Unai Emery's Premier League squad on Sunday for the first time since October .

Elliott's deal includes a £35million buy option that his loan side must pay should he hit 10 appearances this season, and a Liverpool legend has some choice words for the exiled attacker. Mirror Football brings you the latest transfer updates from Anfield.

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So far during his time at Villa Park, Elliott has appeared just five times, starting twice. Before he was named on the bench for the 2-0 victory against Newcastle , he hadn't been part of a top-flight matchday squad in just over three months.

With Villa seemingly not interested in making his move permanent for £35m and boss Emery essentially confirming this , Elliott's options are slim. If Villa opt to terminate the loan, they may face a financial penalty. He is also not allowed to join another European club this season anyway if he goes back to Anfield, owing to FIFA regulations.

Reds icon Carragher has now warned Elliott that his loan move will not get any better, with the former Reds star convinced he will have wasted a year of his career at Villa Park.

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"Aston Villa aren't gonna pay," said Carragher on Sky Sports before Villa's win over Newcastle. "He [Emery] may bring him on three or four times between now and the end of the season, but he certainly won't bring him on five times because that's when it clicks into place.

"That's the ruthless nature of football. If the manager doesn't fancy the player and he doesn't think he can add to what he's got, are the club gonna spend whatever it is? I think it's £25-30m?

"Listen, I understand where Emery is coming from, but I really feel for the young lad. It almost feels like he's wasted a year of his career."

One star who has been recalled from loan by Liverpool is young Welsh international Lewis Koumas. The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Stoke City and joined Birmingham City in August on another temporary deal.

Koumas had played 25 times for Chris Davies' side, bagging his first goal for the club in a 3-2 win against Coventry City earlier in January.

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But Liverpool have now confirmed Koumas has returned to the club from the Championship, with his loan deal cut short. It is understood the club wish to assess his future options with another loan move likely.

Koumas will be hoping he can make Craig Bellamy's Wales squad for the upcoming World Cup play-offs and potentially the tournament proper, so first-team minutes could be on his mind.

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