Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can be a key player for Liverpool this season, according to Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham.
The England international missed a large portion of last season with a ligament injury, but looks set to feature heavily for the Reds this campaign.
And Higginbotham has been quick to outline what he expects from him.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Roberto Firmino likes to drop deep, so there is going to be space in behind for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to get into. That’s something he was doing really well before he picked up his injury
“It will take a bit of time for him to get back up to speed again but he’s an important player for Liverpool and can give them something different.
“That’s what Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is capable of. There is no doubting the talent he has. You can see from his touch maps that spaces have been created for him to get into.”
OPINION
The Ox has the potential to be a really important player for the Reds this season. Prior to that devastating injury that he picked up in the 2018 Champions League semi-final against Roma, he was just starting to establish himself as an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s plans, and it was so cruel that he was ruled out of both the final and the World Cup that summer. Now, however, he looks like he is getting back to his best. Over the course of his 89 top flight minutes so far this term he has managed two shots on goal, a key pass, and four successful dribbles, as per Whoscored. More robust than your average attacking midfielder, and more willing to wander into pockets of space than most as well, he is a real handful, and his natural creativity and versatility could make him undroppable for the Reds if he can get a decent run under his belt. The fans already love him, but if he can get up and running properly, he could become one of the first names on the team sheet.
