ELLIOTT HAPPY TO PLAY THE VILLAN

Booed by Everton fans, the on-loan Liverpool star is delighted with switch to Emery's side

- BY JOHN RICHARDSON

THE crescendo of boos were music to the ears of Harvey Elliott as he stepped onto enemy territory.

His 71st-minute introduction as an Aston Villa player after his Liverpool exit could have been against the Dog and Duck for all the 22-year-old cared.

The onetime teenage protege, who at Fulham quickly attracted the attention of the Reds, feels loved again after seeing the path to a regular Anfield role often blocked.

Although he quickly acknowledges that simply arriving from the reigning Premier League champions doesn't carry a free entry to Unai Emery’s side.

He admitted: "It’s going to be hard coming into a team with incredible players. There are players still out injured as well, like Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara.

"There's quality all around the team and it's going to be hard, but I kind of like the process of having to work to get into a really good team. I face that challenge again with Villa.