The Ox still has a point to prove
Midfielder could get first start tonight
London – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has not enjoyed the smoothest of starts to his Liverpool career and will be hoping to kick-start it in today’s Champions League game at NK Maribor.
The 24-year-old England international, who signed from Arsenal in August, has yet to begin a Premier League game for his new team.
Against Manchester United on Saturday he was granted a forgettable 12 minutes, following on from nine at Newcastle United and 12 against Burnley and Leicester City.
He came on at half time against Manchester City when Liverpool were two goals and a man down.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s only start was in the League Cup defeat by Leicester and he has chalked up less than 200 minutes on the field since becoming one of Liverpool’s most expensive signings.
Juergen Klopp’s decision not to unleash him on United said much about The Ox’s lack of progress. With Sadio Mane injured, he could have played on the wing but the manager opted to push Philippe Coutinho wide and bring Emre Can into midfield.
Klopp justified his decision by suggesting that OxladeChamberlain, who has 30 England caps and has been playing at the top level for seven years, needed more time
By contrast, Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s other main signing, has fitted in seamlessly even though he arrived with much less Premier League experience. Oxlade-Chamberlain hardly helped himself by missing a close-range chance against Newcastle.
It is not the start he was hoping for after rejecting a new contact at Arsenal and the chance to join Chelsea because he was keen to work under Klopp.
Ironically, part of the problem may lie with his versatility, which is probably what attracted Liverpool in the first place. Since making his debut as a precocious 16-yearold with Southampton, Oxlade-Chamberlain has struggled to establish himself in one position.
He said he wanted to become a central midfielder “like Steven Gerrard” but faces stiff competition for places with England’s Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana, Germany’s Can and Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum vying for two slots alongside Coutinho.
Klopp’s challenge is to harness Oxlade-Chamberlain’s raw pace and power and make him a more consistent performer, but former Liverpool winger John Barnes is among those calling for patience.