Klopp: Oxlade-Chamberlain 'is like dynamite'
After seven substitute appearances in the league amounting to the equivalent of under two full matches, Jurgen Klopp has declared Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain “is like dynamite” every time he’s introduced for Liverpool.
The Reds parted with up to £40 million to sign the versatile Englishman from Arsenal in the summer, despite his contract in north London expiring at the end of the 2017-18 term. He inked what was believed to be a five-year deal on Merseyside, but is yet to play regular minutes in the central midfield role he apparently craved.
Still, following no assists, goals, and just one completed dribble in Premier League play for Liverpool, Klopp is impressed after Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cameo in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town.
“He has shown his class each and every time he has had the opportunity on the pitch and the weekend was another example of this,” Klopp wrote in This is Anfield. “He is like dynamite when he comes on. Aggressive in the most positive way. Front foot always. Looking to attack and create. These performances come because of how good his attitude is in training at Melwood. He has the highest quality in everything he does; sometimes I think he is the last to realise this.”
At Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain was more regularly deployed as a speedy winger, but Arsene Wenger’s change to a 3-4-3 shape saw the Southampton product crop up in a greater variety of positions. He appeared a natural fit as a wing-back, but is believed to have been most fond of playing in the middle of the park. He also played as a right-back in the Gunners’ opening day defeat of Leicester City.
With next summer’s World Cup in Russia looming, Oxlade-Chamberlain will be desperate for more game time soon. He’s squabbling for minutes in a midfield three with Jordan Henderson, Emre Can, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, and Marko Grujic. Competition will be increased further when Adam Lallana, England’s Player of the Year for 2016, returns from injury sometime after November’s international break.
“I am sure he is greedy for more starting selections and of course that opportunity will come,” Klopp continued. “He is very much in the infancy of his Liverpool life, but the ‘world’ in 2017 doesn’t always allow for patience. He is doing everything right in this moment and because of this I know he will be a big success for us.”
Liverpool faces Maribor at Anfield on Wednesday. The Reds were rampant in the reverse fixture two weeks ago, running out 7-0 winners in Slovenia to claim a slender advantage atop Champions League Group E.
