Aliev was chosen for the 2021 Channel One Trophy, a televised team event organized in lieu of the cancelled European Championships. He was selected for the Red Machine team captained by Alina Zagitova. Aliev placed fourth in the short program and fifth in the free skate, and the Red Machine team took the trophy. Subsequently Aliev participated in the Russian Cup Final, which was widely assumed to be the deciding event for the second Russian men's berth at the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm. Aliev placed ninth in the short program after popping his triple Axel to a single and making a quad error. He rose to third place overall with a first place finish in the free skate.