HE’S OUR OX IN THE BOX
Klopp determined to get more goals out of £35M signing after his barren years at Arsenal
JURGEN KLOPP intends to succeed where Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger failed and get more goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Klopp said it is “unbelievable” that the Ox was not asked to contribute more goals and assists during his six years at the Gunners.
The England midfielder managed just 20 goals in 198 games in all competitions for Arsenal before his £35million deadline-day switch to Liverpool, and Klopp feels he was made to defer to Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. He has two in his 20 appearances for the Merseysiders, and Klopp claimed this is the part of his game he can most improve.
The Kop boss said: “The biggest improvement and potential is being involved in goalscoring situations.
“It’s unbelievable, but he was not asked for this too much in the past. If you watch Arsenal in the past, their two decisive players were Ozil and Sanchez.
“They are involved in a lot of moments, and decisive passes... Ozil or Sanchez.
“And then you are not much involved. And then Olivier Giroud when he is coming on to the pitch.
“Here we put it on more shoulders, much more shoulders. If he is on the pitch, he needs to be involved in these situations. At the moment I am fine with him. It is all good. There is a lot of space for improvement as well. It’s all good.”
Klopp feels Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, has all the attributes needed to contribute more goals because he is quick and comfortable shooting with either foot.
He netted just nine Premier League goals for the Gunners, and Klopp added: “He has the obvious skills – shooting, both feet, speed. Where’s the limit? I don’t know.
“That’s why I say players always can improve and that is the obvious thing where Oxlade can improve.
“It’s not a criticism and if it were, I would have told him already. It is just obvious potential which is there and we will work on it. That is something we know he will be better at in the future.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain will return to the Emirates tomorrow, transformed from the player who arrived at Anfield, low on confidence and match fitness. His departure from Arsenal divided opinion among Gunners fans, but one of the reasons he quit the club and snubbed the chance to join Chelsea was because he wanted to play in midfield.
He disliked being made to play wingback by Wenger and has blossomed in recent weeks in midfield for Liverpool.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has started five of Liverpool’s last eight Premier League games and come off the bench in the other three.
Although Klopp does not rule out using him as an emergency defender, he claims his strengths are going forward. “He came here and we spoke about the position,” he said. “The only position he didn’t want to play is wing-back, but just like James Milner if you asked him, he would still do it.
“For me it’s not a big issue if he is a winger or a midfielder. But his main skills are offensive, that’s true.
“I know how it is if you are a big signing, everyone expects you immediately to perform on the pitch. But it’s difficult.
“I was happy since the first day because of his attitude and involvement. Since then he has become more and more a Liverpool player.
“He is really fit. You saw against Bournemouth he looks in good shape, he’s not tired or anything. He’s such an athlete.
“It’s unbelievable, but he has 10 or 12 years yet to come in his career. He can improve and that’s fine.”
He has obvious skills... he’s fast and he can shoot with both feet. What’s the limit? I don’t know...