VILLA SPARK CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE
him suffer serious knee ligament damage which needed multiple operations to repair.
But Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and the club have never lost faith in the England midfielder making a full recovery and he was rewarded with a new contract earlier this season as he continues to get up to speed.
He has now scored two wonder goals in the space of a week, against Genk in the Champions League (left) and in the 5-5 epic with his former club Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
But the ex-Southampton star has yet to break into Klopp’s side on a regular basis this term, with a midfield trio of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum the German’s preferred selection.
“There’s definitely more in me to come out and I need to find that,” said Oxlade-Chamberlain. “It’s good being close to your team-mates but none of us likes to be left out, whether it’s one game or three games.
“That’s the type of competition you need, healthy competition you need to get the best out of you.”
Klopp certainly gets the best out of Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“You will see him clapping and applauding when someone has a shot from 20 yards and it has gone into row Z. It’s because he likes us to try these things,” added the England star.
“I’m going through the process again – he has to remind me again when I get in these areas to shoot. When we are defending I need to be there and here and press more aggressively, so I’m going through that process again.”
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Liverpool to win 4-1 ‘We were in Christchurch when you beat New Zealand last weekend and what a fantastic occasion that was. This weekend is going to be even more special. Not just for you, but for your family and your friends. Come on boys, let’s make it a cricket and rugby World Cup double!’ ‘I have been glued to the World Cup, the win over New Zealand was amazing, and it’s one of those special days in sport when everyone gets behind England. I can’t wait, I wish England all the very best in the final and I’m sure they can win.’
ASTON VILLA boss Dean Smith is hoping Liverpool Kop a bit of their own medicine this afternoon.
Jurgen Klopp’s league leaders rightly consider a rocking Anfield as their 12th man in the pursuit of their first league title in 30 years.
But Smith says he’s staggered by the support his side are getting with Villa Park recording a 40,000-plus gate for the seventh time in succession.
That hasn’t happened for 70 years – since Boxing Day, 1949 – and Smith believes it could help them crack Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the campaign.
Smith said: “That’s incredible and I’m thankful for the support we get. They have bought into what we’re doing and I’ve said before there is a togetherness there.
“But there will be no time when we need them more than this - to crank up the atmosphere.
“We’ve all seen what Liverpool can do to teams at their place.
“It gives you a lift, it gives you that extra adrenaline and hopefully they can do that for us as well. If they can go and create an atmosphere like they did against Everton this season – which is the best I’ve known at Villa Park – then it can become like Liverpool at Anfield, where the crowd have become their 12th man.
“Our crowd can become our 12th man.”
The Villa boss has nothing but admiration for the job Jurgen Klopp has done since his arrival on Merseyside but says he doesn’t expect any discussions about their Carabao Cup quarter-final which Liverpool have threatened to pull out of.
Smith said: “They have the World Club Championship to play so I’m very sympathetic with them. They will run it by us to make sure it doesn’t affect us – we don’t have World Club Championships or Champions League games so there are a few more gaps in our calendar!
“I won’t be disappointed either way whatever they decide to do.”
Midfielder Jack Grealish is ready to play despite a calf injury picked up at Manchester City, but Smith anticipates making a late decision on the playmaker.