Watching a Premier League title charge unfold with a front-row view would appeal to most boyhood Liverpool supporters. But for Harvey Elliott, that prospect has often been a frustrating one this season.

Elliott has had a better vantage point than every other Reds fan as this increasingly exciting campaign has played out in Arne Slot's debut campaign in charge, but the lack of participation has been a source of annoyance for the midfielder.

After 21 games played, the England Under-21 international has featured for just 53 of a possible 1890 Premier League minutes, with only Federico Chiesa being used more sparingly by Slot. The Italy international's fitness issues have been well documented, explaining his own lack of game-time, and for Elliott - a player who was used 53 times in Jurgen Klopp's final campaign at Anfield - inaction has been quite the adjustment.

READ MORE: What Mohamed Salah posted six minutes after Arsenal dropped points against Aston Villa

READ MORE: 'The truth is' - Darwin Nunez makes honest 'rough patch' admission and new Liverpool pledge

The attacking midfielder shone during the club's pre-season tour of the United States, with two eye-catching assists during a victory over Arsenal in Philadelphia in particular whetting the appetite for how he might flourish in a more advanced, central role under Slot for the season ahead.

Back then, it appeared as though the former Fulham teenager would be competing directly for the No.10 spot with Dominik Szoboszlai, whose own tireless and tactically flexible qualities neatly contrasted with the more creative and cerebral skills of Elliott.

An injury, however, left Elliott sidelined for the best part of three months between early September and late November. A foot fracture was confirmed after a scan on England duty and while supporters were understandably annoyed at seeing a serious setback announced while Elliott was under the care of the national side, it's understood the 21-year-old actually hurt himself for Liverpool and continued to play through the pain barrier before the problem was assessed further by England medical staff.

That issue has not been the only reason why Elliott has so far only been on the fringes of the Slot era though, with Liverpool sailing to the top of both the Premier League and Champions League in his absence while Szoboszlai has battled with Curtis Jones for a place at the tip of the midfield.

As a result, curious speculation has linked Elliott with a move away from the club he grew up following from Chertsey, the Surrey town around 20 miles south of central London. Brighton & Hove Albion and Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund were both credited with an interest the day after he was left on the bench for a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final earlier this month. The man himself, though, is entertaining no thoughts of giving up on his dream of becoming a major component of the club he grew up loving.

"Absolutely [I want to stay]," Elliott says. "Liverpool is my club, Liverpool is my team. I want to fight for my place, fight for my position in the team. I am going to do what it takes. Do it as much as I can.

"Help the team out when it’s possible. It’s down to me to put in the effort, the hard work, the desire, to make that achievement. I am not going to give up, I am going to keep fighting and who knows what might happen."

Despite the long-term aim of becoming as influential to Slot as he clearly was for Klopp, there have been some frank conversations between player and head coach in recent weeks, with Elliott making a beeline for the boss' office to ask just why opportunities have been few and far between since his return to fitness against Southampton on November 24.

Elliott has made just two starts this term - at Southampton in the Carabao Cup last month and for the recent home win over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup - and while the midfielder's love of the club shines through during a post-match chat following the 2-0 win over Brentford, those conversations with Slot were constructive as to the lay of the land presently, he admits.

He says: “Yeah, it's been a little bit [frustrating]. At the same time, the team is winning games and the team is doing really well. It’s just friendly conversations of ‘is there anything I need to do to show you to get more game time? ‘Is there anything I need to work on specifically?’

"We have had those conversations. It’s not just me, it’s other lads in the team as well, that maybe haven’t played as much as they want. Probably doing the same thing. I need to keep my head down and keep working hard and trying to help the team out.

"Whenever I am needed and wait for my opportunity. I was out with an injury at the start of the season. I don’t expect to come in and play straight away. I want to help my team out as much as I can. Help the club out and do everything I can."

Of all the regulars of Slot's Liverpool squad, only Chiesa (172) and Tyler Morton (221) have played fewer than Elliott's 254 minutes across all competitions and to match his overall figure of 2800 of last term, he will have to play every minute of the next 28 games. For context, the Reds will have 33 more fixtures to complete if they go all the way in the Champions League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup.

Virgil van Dijk says: “With Harvey, you have to keep working hard and he is. It is all about what you show on the pitch when you get the chance and today was a great result. I said to him today: 'Hard work always pays off'.

"He is a very talented boy and has already shown so many good things for Liverpool. We have a very good squad and we have to maximise it. When you come you have to make an impact and that is what they did today."

Speaking on Friday, before Elliott's impactful cameo off the bench in the victory at Brentford, Slot said: "It would be weird if he would come to me and say: 'I'm so happy with the playing time I have at the moment'. But the first thing you ask me (transfer speculation) is the same answer every single time.

"We don't talk about rumours where people talk about players who are in contract talks or if we are linked with players or our players are linked with other clubs. That he wants to play more he should because if he was happy with his current situation that would be the wrong thing.

"But every single day he is working as hard as he can. But like Federico - because many people ask about him, who is in competition with Mo Salah - Harvey is in competition with four or five very good midfielders, you may agree with me or not."

Asked what he feels he can work on to become a staple of Slot's Liverpool, Elliott adds: “Physically, if you look at the team now and the sprint distance we are doing, the constant ratting around. It's something that I can do.

"I feel like I can improve it a little bit more. We have players in the team who are unbelievable at it. In terms of Darwin, Curtis, people like that, who are constantly pressing, constantly running around.

"Like I said it is something that I can do but I need to get into a rhythm of doing it and making it effective. Not just doing it for the sake of doing it. That is something I need to improve on personally. I will work as hard as I can to do that.

"I was brought on to hopefully win the game today, it’s not all about me. It’s about other people in the team, we all played a part today, whether you are starting or coming on, it’s a team game. We all need to be ready.

"Today, I provided the assist but Dawin scored two goals as well. Everyone else contributed within that passage of play. I am happy. I am happy to have played. I need to keep working hard.

"[The celebrations after the first goal] was a very emotional moment. Not only winning the game but scoring in front of our fans. Digging deep for the full minutes, I think it sums us up. We need to keep fighting until the end.

"Some games it doesn’t work, some games it does. If you give up during the game, you are not going to get these opportunities and today, two dropped for us, in terms of scoring.

"We need to keep building on it. I think it shows if you keep fighting till the end, something is always going to happen for you.”

There is a title to be won for Liverpool now and it's obvious Elliott no longer wants the best seat in the house to see how it pans out.