BUSINESS AS USUAL
Ox has faith in pals after Coutinho exit
BUSINESS as usual was the message from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as Liverpool start life without Philippe Coutinho.
But he knows all eyes are on the Reds after the Brazilian’s £142m move to Barcelona. And the visit of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to Anfield is the toughest test they could face in their first game without him. It won’t just be about how Sunday’s game goes for Jurgen Klopp’s side, though, it is more about how the rest of their season pans out after the decision to sell one of their best players midway through the ® campaign. Oxlade-Chamberlain is aware that those left behind after the exit of Coutinho (left) have to stand up and be counted, to absorb the loss as a group, and he is in no doubt they can handle it.
“First and foremost, I am the type of person who relishes the chance to stand up and perform under pressure, I have had to do that my whole career,” said the former Arsenal midfielder.
“At a massive club like Liverpool people are going to come and go.
“Whoever remains it is our job to keep the wheels moving and keep the momentum going.
“It’s our job now, as the players that remain, just to keep going. And for me, really, it is business as
usual. I knew what an amazing player he was, what a world-class talent he was, before I came here.
“And in the short time I have been able to play with him, I have seen what an influential part he was in the side.
“People come and go. Great players will leave clubs and the clubs bring in great players.
“When Phil wasn’t playing in the team for some games, we still played great football and we have amazing players who can score goals – the likes of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino.
“We have goals and creativity all over the team. Obviously Phil added to that.
“But I have every faith in the boys that we just move on now.”
There is the threat that the exit of the Brazilian will overshadow a huge game on Sunday against Guardiola’s side.
This encounter could have a huge impact on the Reds’ top-four hopes, but Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, insists he will not be on their minds.
He said: “I’ve got every respect for Phil and his decisions. I wish him all the best.
Playing
“But he is not in my thoughts right now, moving on to Man City, because he is not going to be able to affect the score.
“I’m more concerned about what I can do, what Mo can do, what Sadio can do, what whoever is playing will do.”
While Oxlade-Chamberlain is not foolish enough to suggest he can fill the void of Coutinho’s departure on his own, he will be aware the situation could give him more playing time.
At the beginning of the season the ex-Southampton ace struggled to get into the Liverpool side as Klopp wanted him to slowly adapt to his playing style and he did not start a Premier League game until November.
He lost his place in the England squad before Christmas and there were questions if he made the right decision to snub a new deal at Arsenal and a move to Chelsea in favour of Anfield.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain has started four of the last six Reds games and he added: “I came here for a reason. I felt I needed a change and a new challenge and it was one I was happy to take on.
“You want to play as much as possible but I understood that the manager would want me to learn the way he wants me to play and how to play best with the team.
“I feel like I’ve really settled in and I’m a good part of the team.
“That is where I am at the moment, but I know that there is a lot more room for improvement and I need to keep pushing it out of myself.” LIVERPOOL have approached Red Bull Leipzig about signing Naby Keita this month, rather than waiting until the summer to complete his £57m move.
But the Bundesliga club have yet to respond with how much extra they would want for an early deal.