Liverpool are desperate to have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back in the squad, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is currently out with a cruciate ligament injury, which he suffered in Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final first leg win over Roma towards the end of last season.
As a result, the midfielder missed out on the Champions League final and England’s squad for the World Cup as the Three Lions reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1990.
The 25-year-old is not expected to return to action for Liverpool until the back-end of this season with the club not wishing to rush his rehabilitation at a risk of his career.
Despite that, Liverpool manager Klopp has admitted he is itching for Oxlade-Chamberlain to return with the midfielder missed.
“Ox is not to be replaced, that is key,” he told a press conference previewing Liverpool’s Premier League match against Manchester City on Sunday.
“I cannot think about him at the moment unfortunately.
“We had similar situations with these little runs, in between winning the ball and being spot on. We are desperate to have him back, better sooner than later.”
Liverpool are currently second in the Premier League with 19 points after seven games, having won six and drawn one so far.
The Reds, however, are three games without a win across all competitions having lost to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, drawn with the same opponents in the Premier League to end their perfect start, and falling to beat Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday.
How much do Liverpool miss Oxlade-Chamberlain?
After a slow start to life at Anfield, following his move from Arsenal last summer, Oxlade-Chamberlain worked his way to becoming one of the Reds’ most important players.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists his side are desperate for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to return
Finally finding a place in his favoured central midfield position, Oxlade-Chamberlain providied pace and creativity from a deeper position to add to the already frightening attacking trio of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
In the Premier League for Liverpool last season, only Salah (10) recorded more assists than Oxlade-Chamberlain’s seven, though the former Arsenal man’s came at 0.42 per 90 minutes – a record only bettered by Philippe Coutinho.
Oxlade-Chamberlain also averaged 2.06 chances created per 90 and 35.42 successful passes per 90, as he proved himself to be vital in midfield for the Reds.
This season no midfield player for Liverpool has managed this kind of creativity with James Milner going closest averaging 1.98 chances created per 90 minutes. And while the former Manchester City man does average 72.32 passes per 90, only 20.74 of those are forward and advancing the play for Liverpool – in the same way Oxlade-Chamberlain did.
Defensively Oxlade-Chamberlain was impressive too, averaging 1.27 tackles won per 90 for Liverpool last season, with only Emre Can, Milner and Jordan Henderson averaging higher of the club’s midfielders.
But while Liverpool do have better defensive options in midfield this season with Henderson leading the way on 2.35 tackles won per 90, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s all-round game is missed with his ability to carry the ball through midfield.
Last season, the Englishman averaged 2.43 successful take-ons in the Premier League, bettered only by Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool. The Reds have not replaced that quality in their midfield trio, with Naby Keita closest at 1.17 in that position.
The post Why Liverpool are “desperate” to have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back appeared first on Squawka News.
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