Oxlade-chamberlain says Liverpool can take him to new level

Alex Oxlade-chamberlain says he moved to Liverpool from Arsenal to take his game to “the next level” under manager Jurgen Klopp.

The England international was the highest-profile transfer on the final day of the summer window, moving to Anfield from The Emirates for £35million.

He rejected a lucrative contract extension in North London and rejected an offer from champions Chelsea.

In his unveiling interview as a Liverpool player – he will wear the No21 shirt – Oxladechamberlain said Anfield was the venue where he could fulfil his ambitions.

“I’ve admired the club ever since I’ve known football, and the players here and the whole feel of the club, it seems amazing. For me, it just seemed like the perfect fit for me in my further development,” he said.

“I’ve got big aspirations and I want to make big strides forward. I’m ambitious, I want to win things, and I feel this is a squad that can definitely go on and do that. The players and the way the manager likes the boys to play, it’s very hungry and it’s a winning environment.”

Oxlade-chamberlain said Klopp was a major influence on his decision. “I felt like he was the man I’d want to come and play for because I feel like he could really push me and hopefully get the best out of me and take me to the next level, for sure,” Oxladechamberlain told Liverpoolfc.com. “The thing that stood out for me was his relationship with the players, how closely he seems to bond with the players on and off the field. That’s massive and it’s a big plus when you’re looking to progress, having that relationship with the manager, that definitely helps. And then the way his teams play, that’s definitely inspirational for me and was one of the instrumental [reasons] – if not the main reason – that I felt this place was definitely the place for me.”

On signing him, Klopp recalled being impressed by Oxlade-chamberlain when he shone against his old side, Borussia Dortmund.

Evidently the manager also caught the player’s attention. “Even when he was at Dortmund, you see these things from the outside when you look at managers and the way they work,” he added.

“He’s a manager that’s very animated on the side and you feel like you get to know him without even knowing him when you listen to him in his press conferences.”

On his favoured position, he said: “I’ve spoken about this for about six years – my whole career – where I’m going to be playing or I’d like to play. I just say I’d like to be an attacking midfielder.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool plan to reward Wales hero Ben Woodburn, 18 next month, with a new long-term deal in the next few weeks.