PREMIER LEAGUE We’re still amazing without Coutinho
Loss of star won’t stop us, says Oxlade-Chamberlain
SO it turns out the topic that has dominated conversations across the city has failed to make it into one specific place — Liverpool’s dressing room.
While Philippe Coutinho’s move to Barcelona continues to be discussed and debated, with many Liverpudlians wondering why the crown jewels have been sold, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is quick to speak up for the group of players the Brazilian left behind.
‘People will come and go,’ says Oxlade-Chamberlain. ‘it is our job to keep the wheels moving and momentum going. You don’t like to see friends go — Phil is a really good guy — and we wish him all the best. But for me? it’s business as usual. i haven’t really even thought about Phil leaving.
‘You can’t think, “What are we going to do now Phil isn’t here?”
‘When Phil didn’t play in some games we still played great football. We have amazing players who can score like Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino. Goals and creativity all over the team.’
this feels like a significant moment for Liverpool, in terms of how they will cope without Coutinho, but the same can also be said for Oxlade-Chamberlain, the first member of the squad who has been prepared to sit down and discuss the state of the nation.
During an engaging 30 minutes at Liverpool’s Melwood training base, the 24-year-old explains the process of how Jurgen Klopp will move the squad forward and gives an insight into how he overcame a stuttering start after last August’s £35million move from Arsenal.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is someone who Klopp will increasingly look to in the coming months and his form of late has shown why Liverpool were so keen to sign him. He has found a rhythm on and off the pitch, relishing the opportunity to establish himself.
‘When i made the decision to come here, i told myself i was going to stick by it no matter what happened,’ he said.
‘When you come somewhere new, you want to hit the ground running and have people talking positively as early as possible.
‘i knew there was a chance that might not happen so when it didn’t i was ready for that. there was never a time i thought i’d made the wrong decision, i was focused on how i can keep improving.’
those last words show why he didn’t want to run down the final 12 months of his contract and stay at Arsenal or remain in London to sign for Chelsea. He stops short of saying life at the Emirates had left him disillusioned but he knew he needed to get away.
‘ i came here for a reason,’ Oxlade-Chamberlain explains.
‘i needed a change and a new challenge. i knew that was what i was going to face. i came here to push myself and Liverpool is a club that is looking to go and do good things. it seemed like the perfect match.’
Nothing that has happened since has given him reason to doubt and it has encouraged Klopp that his productivity has improved over the last few weeks. He will, undoubtedly, have a key role to play on Sunday when Manchester City arrive in town protecting their unbeaten record.
‘Of course they are not unbeatable,’ he says with confidence.
‘When i used to come to Anfield as an away player, i always knew it was going to be a hard game, no matter what kind of form your team was in. We need to defend well and attack like we know we can. We have everything we need to go and get the right result. We know we can beat City.’
Should Liverpool do that, maybe then the conversations about Coutinho will finally stop.