REDS WON’T FLUNK IT BEFORE JUNKET

THE battle for places has started, the scramble for selection is under way.

A first-class seat on the big bird to the warmth of Doha? Or a spot on the bus to the chill of Birmingham? A Tuesday night in a Midlands suburb? Or a week of luxury in Qatar?

The prospect of a Club World Cup winners’ medal? Or a slog in the cold for a place in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup?

There are plenty of names already on the boarding passes to the Arabian Gulf. The A-listers will be there, surely. You know who they are. But others will be wondering if they will be going with the kids down the

M6 or with the elite to one of FIFA’s junkets. It is a farcical situation.

Liverpool have come up with a convincing explanation for why they felt this was the best option but it just does not feel right. It is happening, though, and it will be fascinating to see how it works out. Jurgen Klopp does have the option of fielding players against Aston Villa on the evening of Tuesday, December 17 and then flying them out to Qatar. If Liverpool win their Club World Cup semifinal on the Wednesday, the final is not until the Saturday.

But if you are a senior player and not in the original party for Doha, it will be a blow to the ego. You can guess where Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (left) will want to be.

There have been signs in recent weeks that he could soon be playing a more influential role.

And those signs were clearly visible again last night.

There is no doubting his ingenuity and his eye for goal when played in a more advanced role. He looked a player who will believe he should be at a Club World Cup rather than a Carabao kickabout come December.